ROME (AP) 鈥 Italian police arrested 19 people, accused of criminal ties with the powerful 鈥楴drangheta mafia group, in a move that decimated the fan clubs backing Serie A teams Inter Milan and AC Milan.
Prosecutors said at a press conference on Monday that possible charges include criminal association, with the use of 鈥渕afia methods,鈥 extortion, assault and other serious offenses.
According to the wide investigation, the criminal ring was linked to 鈥楴drangheta 鈥 the Italian mafia organization that has emerged in recent years as one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the world, rivaling the better-known Sicilian mob.
Prosecutors allege that the suspects have attempted to take control of all the lucrative business activities around Milan鈥檚 Giuseppe Meazza stadium 鈥 also known as San Siro 鈥 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 over 50 people, including Giancarlo Lombardi, a once top AC Milan fan known as 鈥淭he Baron,鈥 as well as that of Antonio Bellocco, a former local 鈥橬drangheta 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 鈥渦ltras鈥 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.
鈥淭his investigation shows the risks of infiltration creeping into professional and non-professional soccer by organized crime,鈥 said Italy鈥檚 anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo. 鈥淲e need to stop pretending not to see these risks.鈥
Milan prosecutor Marcello Viola clarified that Milan鈥檚 two soccer clubs are 鈥渙ffended parties鈥 in the investigation, having put in place rules to prevent wrongdoing.
鈥淏ut they will also have to prove that they have severed any relationship with deviant supporters,鈥 Viola added.
___
AP soccer:
