Cagliari chairman Massimo Cellino has decided to remain in prison despite being granted house arrest as part of an investigation into the Is Arenas where the Serie A club have staged games this season.

Cellino said he would leave jail only when he was recognised as being innocent.

He was arrested two weeks ago along with Mauro Contini, the mayor of Quartu Sant’Elena, the district where the stadium is located, and councillor Stefano Lilliu.

The trio were jailed after being charged with embezzlement and false representation over the rebuilding of the football stadium which became the Sardinian club’s home at the start of the season.

“Cellino has decided he wants to leave (prison) only when it is recognised that has nothing to do with the charges because he has not done anything illegal,” his lawyer Benedetto Balleri was quoted as telling the ANSA news agency.

All three were granted release from prison by the Court of Review and placed under house arrest yesterday after being refused bail last week by a judge but Cellino subsequently decided to stay in jail.

The small Is Arenas ground, which hosted third-tier matches in the 1980s, has only one permanent stand.

Cagliari played at the Stadio Sant’Elia from 1970 until midway through last Serie A season when they left the venue because of disagreements with the local authorities and growing safety worries.

The club hosted the remaining matches last term in Trieste, near the border with Slovenia and nearly 1,000 kilometres away on the Italian mainland.