Milan and Inter Ultras Condemned for Ties to the Mafia in Italy

An Italian judge handed down prison sentences to 16 Inter Milan and AC Milan ultras on Tuesday, for crimes including murder, extortion, and criminal association with links to the ‘Ndrangheta mafia. The verdicts were the result of a swift trial held behind closed doors in a high-security court attached to the San Vittore prison in Milan. The case arose after the arrest of 19 people last September, following an investigation by Milan prosecutors and the national anti-mafia prosecutor’s office. A second trial, involving three other AC Milan ultras, will issue its verdict on June 19. Prosecutors argued that the ultra groups acted as “private militias” with criminal influence that extended beyond the stadium, alleging the infiltration of both the mafia and far-right extremist groups. Around 200 AC Milan fans demonstrated in front of the court in solidarity with their fellow ultras before the verdicts were delivered. 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 prominent figure in the ‘Ndrangheta and also an Inter ultra. After his arrest, Beretta became a state witness and cooperated with investigators, which contributed to a lesser sentence than could be applied in a murder case. Luca Lucci, the historical leader of the AC Milan 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 defense attorneys dismissed the prosecution’s charges as “a house of cards”.

In a fast trial, cases are heard by a judge behind closed doors without witnesses. Defendants get a one-third reduction in their sentences if they accept the process. The judge also ordered a provision of €50,000 ($58,000) each, payable to Inter and Milan, in addition to an additional €20,000 to Italy’s Serie A. Any further damage will be assessed separately in civil proceedings. The leaders of the ultras, along with the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, carried out ticket scams and extortion in beverage stands and parking lots around the city’s San Siro stadium, which both clubs share, prosecutors said. According to researchers, the case discovered in Milan is not the only one in Italy where crime bosses and the extreme right are taking advantage of the strength and lucrative activities of the ultras. Similar problems have been discovered in Greece, where the police have made dozens of arrests while investigating the alleged links between violent sports fans and criminal gangs.