An Italian judge has sentenced sixteen highly fanatic fans of AC Milan and Internazionale to prison terms ranging from two to sixteen years. These so-called ultras acted as a “private militia” inside and outside the stadium and were guilty of murder and extortion.
Nineteen people from the hard core of football clubs AC Milan and Internazionale were arrested last fall. The suspicions ranged from the sale of fraudulent tickets to demanding protection money for the parking lots and drink stands at the San Siro stadium, in collaboration with the ‘Ndrangheta. That is the mafia from the southern Italian region of Calabria. The two clubs share San Siro.
The ultras of both clubs wanted to earn large sums of money together. They did not shy away from serious violence in the process, the judge ruled on Tuesday.
Sixteen ultras have been sentenced to penalties ranging from two to sixteen years. According to the judge, they acted as a “private militia” and their criminal influence extended far beyond the stadium. They also allegedly had close ties with far-right groups and thus the mafia.
Andrea Beretta, the former leader of the AC Milan ultras, received a ten-year prison sentence. He had already confessed to killing another ultra and mafia member. Beretta cooperated with the investigators, which resulted in a lower sentence.
All sixteen convicts must also pay an amount of 50,000 euros to compensate the football clubs for the damage.
The case took place in a heavily guarded courtroom. Outside, hundreds of Milanese football fans stood to show their support for the suspects. Three suspects will be tried later this month. According to investigators, the practices are not unique to Milan. Elsewhere in Italy, there are also ties between ultras, extremist movements and the mafia.