Italian football is once again under scrutiny after a developing investigation linked to an alleged prostitution network surfaced in Milan. According to Italian news agency ANSA, cited by FCInterNews, four people were arrested recently by local police in connection with this story. Authorities claim a Milan-based events company may have operated as a front for the illegal activity.
According to media reports, there could be at least 70 footballers among the best clubs in Serie A, such as AC Milan, Inter, and Juventus, who are believed to be customers in the case. Nevertheless, none of the players is currently being investigated for any crime or has been charged. Under Italian laws, prostitution is not a crime, but its exploitation is.
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Events stretched across locations
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, some of these parties also occurred in Milan as well as the Greek island of Mykonos. These events are said to have included lavish facilities that were advertised as “all-inclusive.” This includes luxury accommodations and entry into the nightlife, among others.
The presence of drugs was another aspect mentioned by investigators. These include the inhalation of nitrous oxide, which is often called “laughing gas,” and cannot be detected through traditional doping tests.
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Lockdown violations under scrutiny
Another aspect under examination is the timing of these events. It is speculated that some of these meetings took place during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Europe when there were heavy restrictions on movements. This could potentially widen the scope of the investigation beyond financial and criminal violations.
The police have already recovered more than 1.2 million from suspects thought to be connected with the scheme. It seems that the probe will continue, as there could be additional revelations made by the investigators.
At this stage, the focus remains on the organisers and those accused of running the network, while the athletes named in reports have not been charged with any wrongdoing.
