Italian police have arrested 19 people accused of criminal ties with the powerful ‘Ndrangheta mafia group.
The arrests have decimated the fan clubs backing Serie A teams Inter Milan and AC Milan, as prosecutors said charges range from criminal association to ‘mafia methods’.
‘Mafia methods’ include extortion, assault and other serious offences.
According to the wide investigation, the criminal ring was linked to ‘Ndrangheta – the Italian mafia organisation that has emerged in recent years as one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the world, rivalling the better-known Sicilian mob.
Prosecutors allege that the suspects have attempted to take control of all the lucrative business activities around Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza stadium – also known as San Siro – including parking, food, tickets and souvenir sales.
Investigators said that some of the suspects might also have been involved in drug trafficking.
Police searched the houses of more than 50 people, including Giancarlo Lombardi, a once top AC Milan fan known as ‘The Baron’, as well as that of Antonio Bellocco, a former local ‘Ndrangheta boss who was killed a few weeks ago.
Among those arrested were Luca Lucci and Renato Bosetti, leaders of the AC Milan and Inter Milan ‘ultras’ fan groups respectively. Lucci had been previously convicted for drug-related charges.
Christian Rosiello, described by local media as the bodyguard of popular Italian rapper Fedez, was also among the detained.
‘This investigation shows the risks of infiltration creeping into professional and non-professional soccer by organised crime,’ Italy’s anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo said. ‘We need to stop pretending not to see these risks.’
Milan prosecutor Marcello Viola clarified that Milan’s two football clubs are ‘offended parties’ in the investigation, having put in place rules to prevent wrongdoing.
‘But they will also have to prove that they have severed any relationship with deviant supporters,’ Mr Viola added.
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