Could face charges for criminal association, with the use of “mafia methods,” extortion, assault and other serious offenses

Italian police arrested 19 people accused of criminal ties with the powerful ‘Ndrangheta mafia group in a move that decimated the fan clubs backing Serie A teams Inter Milan and AC Milan Associated Press reports via ABC News.

Prosecutors said at a news conference on Monday that possible charges include criminal association, with the use of “mafia methods,” extortion, assault and other serious offenses.

According to the wide investigation, the criminal ring was linked to ‘Ndrangheta — 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’s Giuseppe Meazza stadium — also known as San Siro — 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 “The Baron,” as well as that of Antonio Bellocco, a former local ‘ Ndrangheta 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 “ultras” 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.

“This investigation shows the risks of infiltration creeping into professional and non-professional soccer by organized crime,” Italy’s anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo said. “We need to stop pretending not to see these risks.”

Milan prosecutor Marcello Viola clarified that Milan’s two football clubs are “offended parties” in the investigation, having put in place rules to prevent wrongdoing.

“But they will also have to prove that they have severed any relationship with deviant supporters,” Viola added.

Antonio Conte has Napoli back on Serie A summit with sweat equity

Conte tears down Napoli Scudetto ambition: ‘Reality is we’re far off’ Image credit: Football Italia via Yahoo

Napoli must continue to work hard to progress, coach Antonio Conte said after a 2-0 home win over Monza on Sunday put them top of Serie A for the first time since they won the title two seasons ago, Reuters reports via ESPN.

Napoli performed far below expectations last term when they finished 10th and missed out on European competition.

However, they seem to be slowly getting their spirits back under Conte and lead the table with 13 points after six games.

“There is an advantage and a disadvantage [of not playing in Europe] — the advantage is that you can train the team all week, the disadvantage is that the squad is not as competitive as those that do play in Europe,” Conte told DAZN.

“Having said that, we continue to work, we do it to make people’s dreams come true but the reality is that we are too far away to make flights of fancy.

“We need to sweat every game, like we did today, and grow.”

Napoli endured a turbulent 2023-24 campaign, going through three managers after coach Luciano Spalletti left and then took the Italy job.

Conte has been handed the responsibility of reviving Napoli and taking the club back to the top after that dismal season.

“Not even three months have passed, the president [Aurelio De Laurentiis] is the first to have spoken of a total reconstruction. [Victor] Osimhen and [Piotr] Zielinski left while I hear people talking about certain things,” Conte added.

“I know that there are high expectations for me because I have done important things. Let’s let the fans dream, but I have to keep my feet on the ground.

“I hear people talking who know nothing about Scudettos. We have to speed up to get Napoli where they deserve to be, which is not in 10th place.”