Rome - Argentina football icon Diego Maradona has paid a minimal part of the large tax payment he owes the Italian state from the years he spent playing with Napoli, the Association of Italian taxpayers (Contribuenti. it) reported on Saturday.

"The Italian revenue has been unable to levy from Maradona more than 0.10 per cent (of what he owes)," said Contribuenti. it president Vittorio Carlomagno as he criticized how taxes are collected in Italy.

Rome  - The absence of controversial talent Antonio Cassano from Italy's line-up is the talking point this week among football buffs as the world champions gear up for two qualifying games to the 2010 World Cup.

Coach Marcello Lippi resorted to his trademark tough-guy attitude saying that he doesn't have to give reasons for his choices - one of the benefits of having won Italy's fourth world title in 2006.

"I have my convictions and I don't owe explanations," he said. "And not because I'm arrogant, but because I want to work with who is present."

Rome  - Lamborghini has released images of the Murcielago LP 650-4 Roadster which it plans to build in a limited edition of 50 units.

As the name reveals, it will come with a 6.5-litre V12 engine with an output of 478 kW/650 hp and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The top speed is listed at 330 km/h. The designation "4" stands for permanent four-wheel drive.

Rome  - Serie A side Torino have r

Rome  - Serie A footballers Franco Brienza and Salvatore Aronica and the retired Vincenzo Montalbano are under investigation for match-rigging while playing for lower-division Ascoli in 2003, Il Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported Tuesday.

Police in Palermo could charge them with sports fraud in connection with an investigation on alleged ties between the Mafia and the local football club, the report said.

Rome  - Despite declaring in 2007 an income of around a tenth of that of the previous year, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi still easily tops the list of the country's richest government officials, figures released on Monday showed.

Berlusconi's taxable earnings amounted to some 14.5 million euros (19.7 million dollars) compared to 139 million euros he declared in 2006.

Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti declared the second highest income among parliamentarians in 2007 with 4.5 million euros.