Inter and Milan ultras arrested for alleged mafia involvement

19 people were arrested, including the leaders of the Milan and Inter fan clubs

According to information from Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian police carried out an operation this Monday that aims to investigate the infiltration of the mafia within the Milan and Inter fan clubs .

So far, the investigation has led to the arrest of 19 people, including Luca Lucci and Renato Bossetti, leaders of the Milan and Inter fan clubs , respectively. Of those arrested, 16 were remanded in custody and three were placed under house arrest. Around 50 searches were also carried out against the people investigated for “criminal association, aggravated by the mafia method, extortion, assault and other serious crimes”.

The police operation was launched after a long series of investigations by the Milan prosecutor’s office into the infiltration of the Milan and Inter fan clubs by the mafia . It all began a month after the murder of Antonio Bellocco – an Inter fan with strong links to the Calabrian mafia – on 4 September, when he was stabbed by Andrea Beretta, another member of the Nerazzurri fan club .

Extortion in ticket sales, illegal sale of parking spaces in the stadium area that Inter and Milan share and agreements between groups from the two fan clubs for the sale of drinks at San Siro are also being investigated .