Calhanoglu dined with ultras, Inter accused of ‘contribution to crime’

Inter “alternated between aiding and abetting criminality and servility” towards ultra leaders, investigators say, including Hakan Calhanoglu having dinner with some of those arrested.

It was sparked by the assassination of Antonio Bellocco, a leading figure in the Curva Nord group, by fellow ultra nerazzurri Andrea Beretta.

A statement made today to the ANSA news agency by prosecutors explains that Inter as a club “alternated between aiding and abetting criminality and acting with servility, maintaining relationships ( indirect) with organized crime and criminality within the stadium, unable to interrupt these relationships in a clear manner. path.”

Italian football has always seen the ultras maintain very close relationships with the players, much more so than in most other European leagues.

While this can be positive, it can also put stars in close contact with people linked to organized crime.

Nerazzurri ultras leader Marco Ferdico was among those arrested and he met with Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella to discuss the allocation of tickets for the Champions League final against Manchester City.

The investigation indicates that in August 2023, Calhanoglu and his family had dinner with Ferdico, when he was also supposed to have dinner with the murdered Bellocco, for it to be postponed.

Marco Materazzi, winner of the 2006 World Cup in Italy, also appeared in the investigative papers, suggesting he had promised the Curva Nord ultras that he would exclusively sell his new beer brand with them.