Hardcore supporters of Italys football giants Inter Milan and AC Milan were handed prison sentences of up to 10 years on Tuesday for offences including organised crime and murder, following an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the notorious ultra fan groups.
All 16 defendants, tried under a fast-track legal process that began in March, were found guilty and collectively sentenced to a total of 90 years in prison. Their criminal activities largely revolved around matchday operations at the iconic San Siro stadium - ranging from ticket scalping and controlling parking to running concessions and illegally granting stadium access to fans without tickets.
One of the longest sentences was given to Andrea Beretta, a former leading figure among Inter's ultras, who received 10 years for criminal conspiracy involving mafia methods, as well as the murder of fellow Inter ultra and mobster Antonio Bellocco. Beretta, who turned state witness, fatally stabbed Bellocco outside a boxing gym in a Milan suburb, shortly before police arrested 19 leading members of Inter and AC Milan's ultra groups in September.
Bellocco's killing caused particular shock due to his ties to the powerful Ndrangheta mafia clan from Calabria, one of Italy's most notorious organised crime syndicates. Beretta was also implicated in the 2022 murder of veteran ultra figure Vittorio Boiocchi, who was gunned down outside his home at the age of 69. Boiocchis killing sparked a power struggle within the Inter ultra hierarchy.
Following Boiocchis death, Beretta and fellow ultra Marco Ferdico-sentenced to eight years-strengthened their influence over Inters Curva Nord by leveraging Bellocco's mafia connections, pushing out rival factions of far-right hooligans vying for control.