Palermo faced down mafia threats - including receiving the head of a goat, reveals a police inquiry.

The details of the investigation have been revealed with the arrest of agents Giovanni Pecoraro and Marcello Trapani.

Wiretapped telephone conversations found that they had links with the Lo Piccolo clan, whose heads Salvatore and Sandro have been in prison for several months.

The clan wanted to get involved in Palermo's plans to build a new stadium and shopping centre in the Sicilian city, making a profit off the business.

The investigation showed that Rosanero President Maurizio Zamparini and former director of sport Rino Foschi refused to co-operate and pushed to get rid of the agents.

The Mafia resorted to classic tactics to intimidate the club, as they sent the head of a goat to Foschi in Christmas 2006.

"I am happy that from this whole affair it has been proven that Palermo are a clean club run by good people," said Zamparini.

"I heard from the media that one of those arrested was Pecoraro, a person we kicked out last year.

"Foschi and Zamparini's Palermo comes out of this with head held high, as we never had to deal with organised crime."