Paolo Spinelli, former president of Italian football clubs Genoa and Livorno, has reached an agreement with the Genoa Public Prosecutor’s Office for a prison sentence of three years and two months. This case also involves Giovanni Toti, former president of the Liguria region, who is implicated in a corruption scandal.

Spinelli’s defense team, who acknowledged his involvement in a sophisticated corruption scheme involving, among other things, the port of Genoa, has negotiated the sentence to "protect the family business from the media damage of a trial," according to local media.

In addition to the prison term, Spinelli will have 400,000 euros confiscated and will be banned from entering into contracts with public administration. He has admitted to charges of undue corruption and illicit financing.

Previously, Toti also reached a plea deal with the prosecution, resulting in a sentence of two years and one month in prison. Emilio Signorini, the former president of the Genoa Port Authority, also received the same sentence.

The three were arrested in May for operating a bribery system in which Toti received over 74,000 euros between September 2021 and March 2023. In exchange, he offered concessions related to the port of Genoa, local highways, advertising favors, and the privatization of public spaces.