(ANSA) - Rome, December 18 - Giancarlo Abete, the head of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC), said Wednesday that he was confident Gennaro Gattuso will clear his name, after it emerged that the former Italy and AC Milan midfielder is being probed in an investigation into betting-related match-fixing. "I have great faith in Gattuso," said Abete. "Knowing him, it does not seem possible to me. I'm sure he'll come out of this affair (clean). Gattuso, a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, denied the allegations Tuesday and said he would kill himself if it were proved otherwise in an investigation. "I have never, ever had the faintest thought of fixing a match. If such evidence emerges, I'm ready to go into the square - I know I'm saying something serious - and kill myself," Gattuso told SkySport. "Those who know me know that I don't like to lose even the smallest match, not even ones with my friends". Gattuso, who won two Champions League titles and two Serie A crowns during his 1999-2012 stint with Milan, has been out of work since being sacked as second-tier Palermo's coach in September.