Milan and Inter ultras arrested during anti-mafia operation

Several Milanese and Inter ultras with suspected links to mafia families were arrested on Monday morning for alleged extortion and other ‘serious’ crimes.

Italian media, including La Gazzetta dello Sport, report that 19 people, including several members of the Inter and Milan ultras, were arrested on Monday morning.

The investigation began in early September after the murder of Antonio Bellocco, a leading member of Inter’s Curva Nord, committed by Andrea Beretta, a fellow Nerazzurri ultra.

Gazzetta reports that sixteen people have been jailed and three others have been placed under house arrest.

Milan and Inter ultras arrested during anti-mafia operation

Most of them are said to have links to mafia families from Calabria and are said to have committed ‘serious’ crimes linked to the world of football.

According to reports, Bellocco’s murder was immediately linked to the growing links between mafia families and organized crime operating in San Siro through members of Milan and Inter Ultras.

Alleged crimes include extorting tickets and sales of drinks, keeping money from parking lots in the San Siro area and injuries due to the aggravating circumstance of mafia methods.

Marco Ferdico, a leading Inter ultra with strong links to Bellocco, and Luca Lucci, a Milan ultra, are among those arrested this morning.

In 2018, Lucci was seen shaking hands with then-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Milan’s Curva Sud. Salvini has been Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022.

National anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo will hold a press conference at 11:30 am today to clarify the charges and explain the police operation.