Criscito, 25, was suspected of taking part in the rigging of the city derby Genoa v Sampdoria, which was played in May 2011. He currently plays as defender with Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg.

After his room at the national team camp was searched last May and he was notified of being under investigation, the Italian football federation (FIGC) cut him from the squad who was gearing up for Euro 2012.

His former team-mates Dario Dainelli, now at Chievo, Inter Milan’s Argentine Rodrigo Palacio and retired Omar Milanetto also had charges dropped.

“The anger for having missed Euro 2012 is still there, but now justice has been done,” Criscito told Sky TV. “I always said I did nothing wrong.” 

Prosecutors in Genoa requested the judge overseeing the investigation for a ruling of archiviazione (archival) due to lack of sufficient evidence against the suspects.

Archiviazione does not amount to acquittal as the investigation can be reopened if new evidence should surface.

Criscito remains a suspect in the alleged fixing of Lazio v Genoa, which was also played in May 2011.

Milanetto and Lazio’s Stefano Mauri were arrested in connection with the probe and released after two weeks. They are still suspected along with Giuseppe Sculli and retired Georgian Kakhaber Kaladze, both at Genoa in 2011.