Milan, Inter ultras sentenced in 'mafia' case

An Italian justice connected Tuesday sentenced 16 Inter Milan and AC Milan hardline ultra fans to situation presumption ranging from 2 to 10 years for crimes including murder, extortion and transgression relation with links to the 'Ndrangheta mafia.

The verdicts followed a fast-track proceedings held down closed doors successful a precocious information tribunal attached to Milan's San Vittore prison. The lawsuit resulted from the arrest of 19 radical last September pursuing an probe by Milan prosecutors and the bureau of the nationalist anti-mafia prosecutor.

A 2nd trial, which involves 3 different AC Milan ultras, volition present its verdict connected June 19.

Prosecutors argued that the ultra groups acted arsenic "private militias" with transgression power acold beyond the stadium, alleging infiltration by some the mafia and far-right extremist groups.

Around 200 AC Milan fans demonstrated extracurricular the tribunal successful solidarity with their chap ultras before the verdicts were handed down.

Judge Rossana Mongiardo sentenced Andrea Beretta, erstwhile person of Inter Milan's ultras, to 10 years successful prison. He had confessed to the execution successful September of Antonio Bellocco, a starring fig successful the 'Ndrangheta and a chap Inter ultra.

After his arrest, Beretta became a authorities witnesser and cooperated with investigators, contributing to a little condemnation than mightiness different beryllium applied successful a execution case.

Luca Lucci, the historical person of AC Milan's ultras, who is besides nether probe successful a parallel lawsuit for planetary cause trafficking, was sentenced to 10 years successful situation positive 4 years of probation connected charges of transgression relation and attempted murder.

At the extremity of the trial, the defence lawyers had dismissed the prosecution's charges arsenic "a location of cards."

In a fast-track trial, cases are heard by a justice down closed doors without witnesses. Defendants get their sentences reduced by a 3rd if they hold to the process.

The justice besides ordered an instantly enforceable proviso of €50,000 ($58,000) each payable to Inter and Milan, positive an further €20,000 to Italy's Serie A. Any further damages volition beryllium assessed separately successful civilian proceedings.

Leaders of the ultras, unneurotic with the 'Ndrangheta mafia, ran summons scams and extortion rackets connected portion stands and car parks astir the city's San Siro stadium, which some clubs share, prosecutors said.

According to investigators, the lawsuit discovered successful Milan is not the lone 1 successful Italy wherever transgression bosses and the far-right are tapping into the musculus and money-spinning activities of hardline ultra fans.

Similar issues person been uncovered successful Greece wherever constabulary person made dozens of arrests arsenic they analyse the alleged links betwixt convulsive sports fans and transgression gangs.