Published September 30,2024
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Italian police have arrested 19 high-profile “ultra” soccer followers tied to Inter Milan and AC Milan, a lot of whom are suspected of getting hyperlinks with the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, prosecutors mentioned on Monday.
The case revealed how fan golf equipment have been remodeled into crime gangs, operating ticket scams and safety rackets on drink stands and automobile parks across the San Siro stadium, which is shared by the 2 Serie A groups, investigators mentioned.
“This is an important investigation because it forces us to open our eyes to the reality, to the risks of mafia influence in the stadiums,” National Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Chief Prosecutor Giovanni Melillo advised a news convention in Milan.
Prosecutors and police mentioned the suspects, together with the heads of the respective extremely teams, had challenged officers and gamers of each golf equipment to stress them handy over massive portions of tickets for re-sale.
“Inter Milan and AC Milan are (the) damaged parties, victims,” mentioned Milan chief prosecutor Marcello Viola. AC Milan mentioned they’d cooperate totally with investigators. Inter Milan made no instant remark.
News of the investigation comes lower than a month after a pacesetter of the Inter ultras, Andrea Beretta, was arrested for the homicide of Antonio Bellocco, a high determine within the Calabrian Bellocco ‘Ndrangheta mob syndicate.
Police mentioned Inter followers had been doing business with the mafia group, including that Beretta had killed Bellocco due to a monetary disagreement. Beretta has denied the homicide cost, saying he had acted in self defence.
Inter Milan and AC Milan are ferocious sporting rivals, however their respective extremely golf equipment had signed a non-belligerence pact to maximise their illicit income, police and prosecutors mentioned.
Police mentioned soccer followers needed to change their mindset.
“If there is not a change in the way these things work, the people we have arrested will be replaced by others who will commit the same crimes,” Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari advised the news convention.
Prosecutors mentioned the 2 groups additionally needed to evaluate their dealings with the followers, saying modifications of their business construction had been wanted to forestall a recurrence of the alleged felony infiltration.
“Soccer is a business activity, and criminal organisations are interested in all business activities. Unfortunately, we have seen that there are no complaints from the entrepreneurs who are the victims,” mentioned Antonio Quintavalle, a common within the finance police.
Source: www.anews.com.tr