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World Cup winner Vincenzo Iaquinta given two year prison sentence amid Mafia links

World Cup winner Vincenzo Iaquinta has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally holding firearms amid links with the 'Ndrangheta mafia.

The 38-year-old former Juventus and Udinese forward, who was part of the successful Azzurri squad which lifted the World Cup in 2006, was found guilty by a court in Reggio Emilia at the conclusion of the largest investigation into mafia activity in the north of Italy, which went by the codename "Aemelia."

Evidence showing Iaquinta with 'Ndrangheta members had been provided during the process, although the former Italy international said he was innocent and was only being punished for being born in Calabria.