A group of hardcore AC Milan and Inter Milan supporters will face trial on Tuesday over alleged organised crime activities linked to the Serie A clubs’ ultra groups. The case involves over a dozen individuals accused of various serious offences, including criminal conspiracy aggravated by mafia methods—an accusation typically reserved for Italy’s most notorious criminal organisations.
The trial will take place in a high-security courtroom adjacent to Milan’s San Vittore prison, following last year’s arrests of 19 suspects. Sixteen of them have opted for a fast-track legal process, which allows for a quicker resolution based solely on prosecution evidence, with the possibility of reduced sentences if convicted.
Authorities claim the crimes centred around San Siro stadium on matchdays, encompassing illicit ticket sales, control over parking areas and concession stands, as well as taking payments to grant unauthorised entry to the venue. Among the most prominent figures facing trial are Renato Bosetti and Luca Lucci, who led the Inter and Milan ultra factions at the time of their arrests in September.
Bosetti assumed leadership of Inter’s “Curva Nord” following the shocking murder of Antonio Bellocco, a descendant of a powerful ‘Ndrangheta mafia family from Calabria. Bellocco was fatally stabbed by Andrea Beretta, a convicted criminal and former leader of Inter’s ultra group, during an altercation outside a boxing gym. Beretta, who was already imprisoned for the killing at the time of last year’s arrests, is also among those standing trial.
Prosecutors allege that Beretta and another defendant, Marco Ferdico, had brought Bellocco into their ranks to strengthen their control over the lucrative ultra scene, aiming to sideline violent far-right hooligan groups. Investigators uncovered wiretaps in which Bellocco was instructed to “keep away your countrymen,” referring to fellow Calabrian mafia members.
Reports at the time of his death indicated that former Inter ultra leader Vittorio Boiocchi had boasted of earning €80,000 (£68,000) per month from his position before he was gunned down outside his home in October 2022. However, official court documents do not suggest that the alleged ultra-related crimes generated the same level of revenue as traditional mafia enterprises such as drug trafficking and money laundering.
The trial’s fast-track nature means it will proceed without a formal debate of the prosecution’s evidence, reducing the timeframe significantly compared to standard judicial procedures. The remaining three defendants arrested last September, including Francesco Lucci—brother of Milan ultra leader Luca Lucci—began their trial under the conventional legal process last month. Francesco Lucci has previously been linked to crimes such as drug trafficking and a violent assault on an Inter fan, who later took his own life.
Neither AC Milan nor Inter Milan have been charged in connection with the case, and the Milan ultra members on trial are not facing mafia-related allegations.
