Ex-Palermo star Fabrizio Miccoli has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for for extortion aggravated by Mafia method.

The Italian has been appealing the sentence since 2017, but has not has now lost his appeal, as per La Repubblica.

According to the prosecution, Miccoli paid Mauro Lauricella, the son of an alleged mafioso, to recover £17,000.

Miccoli, 40, was allegedly helping recover the money for a friend who was in a dispute with a businessman from Sicily. The money allegedly came from the sale of a night club in Isola delle Femmine.

The offences date back to between 2010 and 2012 and according to the Daily Star, Miccoli and his lawyers will appeal the sentence again to the Supreme Court.

Miccoli shot to prominence in Italian football during his short time with Juventus between 2002 and 2004, but his best days came with Sicilian club Palermo.

In just 165 games between 2007 and 2013, the bulky striker scored 74 goals and was recognised as one of the best strikers in Serie A.

Miccoli is perhaps best remembered for his legendary FIFA cards, with his most iconic coming on FIFA 13, where his 82-rated card quickly achieved cult status.

The Italian was also capped 10 times by Italy between 2003 and 2004, where he scored two goals for the Azzurri.

Miccoli's last club was Maltese side Birkirkara, which he joined in the summer of 2015 and he famously scored against West Ham during Europa League qualifying.

In December 2015, he announced his official retirement.