Italian football is once again at the centre of a scandal, still with mafia overtones, which is shaking not only the fans of the Inter Milanbut also at the highest levels of organized crime. The murder of Antoine Belloccoheir to one of the most influential families in ‘Ndranghetain the hands of Andrea Berettaultra-leader blackhas unleashed a storm of suspicion that goes beyond a simple settling of scores between friends. This crime not only revives the ghosts of the murder of Vittorio Boïocchiformer leader of the North Curvebut also exposes the links between modern football and organised crime in Italy.
Wednesday morning at Cernusco on Naviglioa quiet town in the interior Milanwitnessed a scene that looks like it came straight out of a gangster movie. Antonio Bellocco, 36, who is linked to the ‘Ndrangheta of Rosarnoand Andrea Beretta, 49, historic leader of the Inter Milan ultras, were together in a branded car clever. What began as a seemingly normal meeting between friends ended in tragedy. Bellocco fired a bullet that wounded Beretta in the leg. However, Beretta’s response was devastating: he stabbed Bellocco in the throat, causing his death.
The incident, which occurred shortly before 11 a.m., took place in the courtyard of the “Testudo” gymnasium, a boxing school attended by both Beretta and Bellocco. They had both come there to train, as they usually did, but that day events took an unexpected turn. After being injured, Beretta was rushed to the San Raffaele Hospital from Milan, where he remains in custody due to his involvement in the assassination.
Beretta justified his actions as self-defense. According to his account, he feared for his life: “I defended myself because otherwise he would kill me.” According to his lawyer, obscure PerlinoThe bullet fired by Bellocco hit Beretta between the leg and left side, triggering a confrontation that ended in murder.
This crime is not an isolated incident. Andrea Beretta, known as the leader of the North Curve Inter, has been in the spotlight for his criminal activities in the past. Beretta was banned from stadiums for ten years, due to his involvement in acts of violence in football. However, his influence on North Curve has not diminished. In fact, in recent times, it has ceded control of its organization to Frame FerdicoAnother Inter ultra, but he remains a key figure among the team’s most radical supporters.
On the other hand, Antonio Bellocco, descendant of one of the most powerful families of ‘Ndrangheta Calabrese, had also found his place in the Inter ultras. Son of Jules Bellocco and nephew of the historical leader Umberto BelloccoAntonio had been convicted in the past for his participation in mafia activities, as part of “Operation Sunset” led by the Anti-Mafia Directorate of Reggio Calabria. After serving his sentence, Bellocco moved to Milan with his family and, although he claims to have left his criminal life behind, his close relationship with Beretta and his integration into the ultra world arouse suspicion.
In recent years, Bellocco had become a prominent figure in the world North Curvewhich did not go unnoticed by the authorities. Anti-mafia investigations have shown that their presence in the ultras’ environment could be linked to the criminal interests of the ‘Ndrangheta in Milan. Not only was he suspected of involvement in activities such as extortion and drug trafficking, but Bellocco was also thought to aspire to control the North Curve from the shadows, moving Beretta on the most important issues.
Broken friendship and violence
Despite the friendship that united Beretta and Bellocco, who even displayed it on social networks, it seems that in recent times tensions have increased. The apparently solid relationship between the two could have been affected by Bellocco’s ambition to take total control of the company. North CurveThis growing rivalry was not unknown in ultra circles, where there was talk of friction that could have been the trigger for the drama.
The day before the murder, Beretta and Bellocco played a futsal match together between friends, a “derby” between Inter and Milan fans. An image published in Instagram by Marco Ferdico, in which they are seen smiling, shows that the tension was not evident. But a few hours later, the situation changed radically. Beretta claimed that he had not slept for days and that he had armed himself after hearing rumors that they wanted to kill him. These fears culminated in the fatal encounter at the gym.
Beretta and Belloco, in the little football match they played shortly before the murder
The death of Antonio Bellocco is not only a blow to those around him, but also a challenge to the balance of power within the country. ‘NdranghetaKilling a member of the Bellocco family, especially one with such a prominent lineage, is not something that goes unnoticed in organized crime circles. Investigators fear the murder could destabilize the fragile truces maintained by the mafia families in Milan, where peace between clans has been carefully maintained for years.
The Bellocco family, deeply rooted in Calabrian organized crime, is involved in numerous illicit activities and Antonio’s murder could trigger a series of reprisals. The intervention of the clans Aspromontewho act as guardians of the rules of the ‘Ndranghetawill be crucial to avoid an escalation of violence.
Danger in the stands
The murder investigations are now in the hands of the Anti-Mafia District Directoratewhich does not exclude that the offence may be linked to the interests of organised crime in the North Curve. The link between the mafia and football ultras is not new in Italy. The murder of Vittorio BoïocchiFormer Inter ultras leader, still pending in 2022, had already raised questions about the links between these groups.
Bellocco’s crime and its implications for Milan’s ultra world are just the tip of the iceberg. For years, Italian authorities have suspected the presence of mafias in the stands of football stadiums, where parking control, ticket sales and merchandising and even drug trafficking is part of a much larger criminal network. Ultras are not only football fans, but also actors in illegal activities that go beyond sport.
On the left, Vittorio Boiocchi, the ultra leader assassinated in 2022
The assassination of Boiocchi, compared at the time to that of Diabolicalultra leader of the latium In 2019, it was a reminder that criminal interests in football are not exclusive to a single club. In the case of Inter, the North Curve has become a breeding ground for mafia influence, and Bellocco’s death could be the catalyst for a storm of violence involving other organized crime players.
The assassination of Bellocco by Beretta not only left a void in the world North Curve of Inter, but also shook the foundations of the relationship between the mafia and football in Italy. The links between the ultras and organized crime, which have been the subject of investigation and suspicion for years, are now in the spotlight. The consequences of this crime, both on a sporting and criminal level, could radically change the panorama of Italian football and the mafia structures that surround it.
