The recent crackdown on criminal activities within the ultras fan groups of Inter and Milan has sent shockwaves through the football world. The Central Operational Service agents of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate of the State Police, the Mobile Squad, and the S.I.SCO of Milan have carried out numerous precautionary measures and search warrants against individuals investigated for various crimes, including association with a criminal organization with the aggravating factor of mafia methods, ’ndrangheta infiltrations in trafficking, extortion, injuries, and other serious offenses.
The suspects are believed to be mostly linked to the ultras fan groups of Inter and Milan, with crimes related to the business surrounding the football context. One of the key areas of investigation was the management of the San Siro stadium’s ancillary businesses, from parking lots to the sale of merchandise and sandwiches, to ticket sales for matches. A total of 19 individuals have been targeted with precautionary measures, with 16 in custody and 3 under house arrest. Additionally, over 50 ultras from the Milan and Inter fan groups have been subject to searches in the investigation.
The offenses being contested include association with a criminal organization with mafia aggravation, extortion, false statements or attestations in documents intended for judicial authorities, possession and manufacture of false identification documents, unauthorized access to computer systems, injuries, assaults, brawls, and resistance to public officials. Notably, the investigation does not involve drug trafficking.
One of the focal points of the investigation is the alleged „alliance“ between the ultras fan groups of Inter and Milan in illicit activities, including ’ndrangheta infiltrations. The extortion activities primarily revolve around catering services related to the San Siro stadium. The prosecutors have also uncovered extortion and demands for „protection money“ from vendors selling sandwiches and food outside the stadium, along with a series of assaults and so-called „stadium crimes.“
According to the prosecutor of Milan, Marcello Viola, this is a complex investigation that has brought together various investigative threads conducted by multiple branches of the State Police, as well as the Gico of Milan and the Scico of the Guardia di Finanza. The investigations have revealed criminal infiltrations among the ultras and have implicated the main figures of the so-called ‚directives‘ of the organized fan groups of the two main Milanese football teams.
The sports justice system has also been activated in response to the judicial investigation in Milan regarding organized crime infiltrations in the Inter and Milan fan groups. The federal prosecutor of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Giuseppe Chinè, is requesting the custody order and investigation documents from the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office to examine any conduct that may be relevant to sports regulations by the two clubs or their members.
The revelations of criminal activities within the ultras fan groups of Inter and Milan have raised serious concerns about the intersection of football fandom and organized crime. The ongoing investigations are shedding light on the darker side of the beautiful game, highlighting the need for stringent measures to combat illegal activities within football fan communities.