Italy’s finance police announced the arrest of key figures among the “ultras” of AC Milan and Inter Milan for serious criminal offenses, including “criminal conspiracy aggravated by mafia methods, extortion, assault, and other grave crimes.” The police stated that the suspects are predominantly affiliated with the ultras groups of both clubs and that the crimes are linked to financial activities surrounding football.
In total, 19 individuals were arrested, including the leaders of the respective ultras factions, Luca Lucci from Inter and Renato Bossetti from Milan. These arrests are part of a broader investigation into organized crime and its influence on football in Italy.
The timing of the arrests is notable, coming just weeks after the killing of a reputed heir to a powerful crime family. Andrea Beretta, who had a lengthy criminal history, fatally stabbed Antonio Bellocco, a prominent figure in the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, during a confrontation outside a boxing gym in a Milan suburb earlier this month.
Bellocco’s death shocked the community due to his high standing within the mafia, prompting authorities to place Beretta’s family under close surveillance amid concerns of violent retribution. This incident has raised alarms about the infiltration of mafia groups into the ultras, attracted by the lucrative earnings associated with certain illicit activities, including ticket scalping and drug trafficking.
Beretta had risen to prominence within the Curva Nord section of San Siro following the murder of another notorious criminal, Vittorio Boiocchi, who was shot outside his home in October 2022. Boiocchi, aged 69 at the time of his death, had allegedly boasted in wiretapped conversations about making up to €80,000 ($88,000) a month through his leadership role in the ultras.
The connections between organized crime and football fan groups have been a growing concern in Italy, as police investigations reveal how these entities operate and profit from illegal activities linked to the sport. The recent arrests underscore the need for greater scrutiny and action against the intertwining of football culture and criminal organizations.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these arrests will impact both clubs and their fan bases, as well as the broader efforts to combat organized crime in the realm of sports in Italy.
