Italian judge sentences AC Milan, Inter ultras in case linked to mafia infiltration
MILAN :An Italian judge on Tuesday sentenced 16 Inter and AC Milan hardline 'ultra' soccer fans to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for crimes including murder, extortion and criminal association with links to the 'Ndrangheta mafia.
The verdicts followed a fast-track trial held behind closed doors in a high security court attached to Milan's San Vittore prison. The case resulted from the arrest of 19 people last September following an investigation by Milan prosecutors and the office of the national anti-mafia prosecutor.
A second trial, which involves three other AC Milan ultras, will deliver its verdict on June 19.
Prosecutors argued that the ultra groups acted as "private militias" with criminal influence far beyond the stadium, alleging infiltration by both the mafia and far-right extremist groups.
Around 200 AC Milan fans demonstrated outside the court in solidarity with their fellow ultras before the verdicts were handed down.
Judge Rossana Mongiardo sentenced Andrea Beretta, former leader of Inter Milan's ultras, to 10 years in prison. He had confessed to the murder in September of Antonio Bellocco, a leading figure in the 'Ndrangheta and a fellow Inter ultra.
After his arrest, Beretta became a state witness and cooperated with investigators, contributing to a lower sentence than might otherwise be applied in a murder case.
Luca Lucci, the historic leader of AC Milan's ultras, who is also under investigation in a parallel case for international drug trafficking, was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus four years of probation on charges of criminal association and attempted murder.
At the end of the trial, the defence lawyers had dismissed the prosecution's charges as "a house of cards".
In a fast-track trial, cases are heard by a judge behind closed doors without witnesses. Defendants get their sentences reduced by a third if they agree to the process.
The judge also ordered an immediately enforceable provision of 50,000 euros ($58,000) each payable to Inter and Milan, plus an additional 20,000 euros to Italy's Serie A soccer league. Any further damages will be assessed separately in civil proceedings.
Leaders of the ultras, together with the 'Ndrangheta mafia, ran ticket scams and protection rackets on drink stands and car parks around the city's San Siro stadium, which both clubs share, prosecutors said.
According to investigators, the case discovered in Milan is not the only one in Italy where crime bosses and the far-right are tapping into the muscle and money-spinning activities of hardline 'ultra' soccer fans.
Similar issues have been uncovered in Greece where police have made dozens of arrests as they investigate the alleged links between violent sports fans and criminal gangs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Italian judge sentences AC Milan, Inter ultras in case linked to mafia infiltration
MILAN :An Italian judge on Tuesday sentenced 16 Inter and AC Milan hardline 'ultra' soccer fans to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for crimes including murder, extortion and criminal association with links to the 'Ndrangheta mafia. The verdicts followed a fast-track trial held behind closed doors in a high security court attached to Milan's San Vittore prison. The case resulted from the arrest of 19 people last September following an investigation by Milan prosecutors and the office of the national anti-mafia prosecutor. A second trial, which involves three other AC Milan ultras, will deliver its verdict on June 19. Prosecutors argued that the ultra groups acted as "private militias" with criminal influence far beyond the stadium, alleging infiltration by both the mafia and far-right extremist groups. Around 200 AC Milan fans demonstrated outside the court in solidarity with their fellow ultras before the verdicts were handed down. Judge Rossana Mongiardo sentenced Andrea Beretta, former leader of Inter Milan's ultras, to 10 years in prison. He had confessed to the murder in September of Antonio Bellocco, a leading figure in the 'Ndrangheta and a fellow Inter ultra. After his arrest, Beretta became a state witness and cooperated with investigators, contributing to a lower sentence than might otherwise be applied in a murder case. Luca Lucci, the historic leader of AC Milan's ultras, who is also under investigation in a parallel case for international drug trafficking, was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus four years of probation on charges of criminal association and attempted murder. At the end of the trial, the defence lawyers had dismissed the prosecution's charges as "a house of cards". In a fast-track trial, cases are heard by a judge behind closed doors without witnesses. Defendants get their sentences reduced by a third if they agree to the process. The judge also ordered an immediately enforceable provision of 50,000 euros ($58,000) each payable to Inter and Milan, plus an additional 20,000 euros to Italy's Serie A soccer league. Any further damages will be assessed separately in civil proceedings. Leaders of the ultras, together with the 'Ndrangheta mafia, ran ticket scams and protection rackets on drink stands and car parks around the city's San Siro stadium, which both clubs share, prosecutors said. According to investigators, the case discovered in Milan is not the only one in Italy where crime bosses and the far-right are tapping into the muscle and money-spinning activities of hardline 'ultra' soccer fans. Similar issues have been uncovered in Greece where police have made dozens of arrests as they investigate the alleged links between violent sports fans and criminal gangs.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italian judge sentences AC Milan, Inter ultras in case linked to mafia infiltration
AC Milan 'ultras' supporters wait outside a high-security courtroom to show solidarity with fellow ultras awaiting a verdict in a court case involving soccer fans linked to both Inter Milan and AC Milan, who are suspected of having ties to the 'Ndrangheta mafia, in Milan, Italy, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco AC Milan 'ultras' supporters wait outside a high-security courtroom to show solidarity with fellow ultras awaiting a verdict in a court case involving soccer fans linked to both Inter Milan and AC Milan, who are suspected of having ties to the 'Ndrangheta mafia, in Milan, Italy, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco MILAN - An Italian judge on Tuesday sentenced 16 Inter and AC Milan hardline 'ultra' soccer fans to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for crimes including murder, extortion and criminal association with links to the 'Ndrangheta mafia. The verdicts followed a fast-track trial held behind closed doors in a high security court attached to Milan's San Vittore prison. The case resulted from the arrest of 19 people last September following an investigation by Milan prosecutors and the office of the national anti-mafia prosecutor. A second trial, which involves three other AC Milan ultras, will deliver its verdict on June 19. Prosecutors argued that the ultra groups acted as "private militias" with criminal influence far beyond the stadium, alleging infiltration by both the mafia and far-right extremist groups. Around 200 AC Milan fans demonstrated outside the court in solidarity with their fellow ultras before the verdicts were handed down. Judge Rossana Mongiardo sentenced Andrea Beretta, former leader of Inter Milan's ultras, to 10 years in prison. He had confessed to the murder in September of Antonio Bellocco, a leading figure in the 'Ndrangheta and a fellow Inter ultra. After his arrest, Beretta became a state witness and cooperated with investigators, contributing to a lower sentence than might otherwise be applied in a murder case. Luca Lucci, the historic leader of AC Milan's ultras, who is also under investigation in a parallel case for international drug trafficking, was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus four years of probation on charges of criminal association and attempted murder. At the end of the trial, the defence lawyers had dismissed the prosecution's charges as "a house of cards". In a fast-track trial, cases are heard by a judge behind closed doors without witnesses. Defendants get their sentences reduced by a third if they agree to the process. The judge also ordered an immediately enforceable provision of 50,000 euros ($58,000) each payable to Inter and Milan, plus an additional 20,000 euros to Italy's Serie A soccer league. Any further damages will be assessed separately in civil proceedings. Leaders of the ultras, together with the 'Ndrangheta mafia, ran ticket scams and protection rackets on drink stands and car parks around the city's San Siro stadium, which both clubs share, prosecutors said. According to investigators, the case discovered in Milan is not the only one in Italy where crime bosses and the far-right are tapping into the muscle and money-spinning activities of hardline 'ultra' soccer fans. Similar issues have been uncovered in Greece where police have made dozens of arrests as they investigate the alleged links between violent sports fans and criminal gangs. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
14 hours ago
- CNA
Britain's Boulter says she has received death threats
British number two Katie Boulter has received death threats to herself and members of her family after matches as players are increasingly subjected to online abuse through direct messages. Gamblers are responsible for 40 per cent of detected abuse, according to a survey undertaken by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) published on Tuesday. Boulter, 28, shared her experiences in an interview with the BBC. The world number 39 received messages that read: "Hope you get cancer", "Candles and a coffin for your entire family", and "Go to hell, I lost money my mother sent me". "I just wonder who the person is that has sent that," Boulter said looking at the "hope you get cancer" message. "I don't think it's something that I would ever say to my worst enemy. It's just an awful, awful thing to say to anyone. It's horrible." The WTA and ITF study, which monitored 1.6 million posts and comments last year using Threat Matrix AI, are calling for the gambling industry to tackle those people responsible for the abuse more effectively. "I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are," Boulter said. "You really don't know if this person is on site. You really don't know if they're nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that." The WTA said 458 players were targeted with direct abuse or threat last year and that action had been taken against the most serious and prolific cases, including 15 accounts escalated to law enforcement. "Online abuse is unacceptable, and something that no player should have to endure," American world number three Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA Players' Council said in a statement. "I welcome the work that the WTA and ITF are doing with Threat Matrix to identify and take action against the abusers, whose behaviour is so often linked to gambling. But it's not enough on its own.
