Apparently, the mafia called the shots at Juve Stabia's stadium for a long time. © ANSA / Ciro Fusco

Camorra in Serie B

Italian football has been rocked by another scandal: Juve Stabia, a Serie B opponent of FC Südtirol, has been placed under receivership due to mafia involvement. Now, increasingly piquant details of the case are emerging. They could disrupt the second division's schedule.

22 October 2025

From: fop

"The players just had to play football – the Camorra took care of the rest," explained Naples' chief prosecutor Nicola Gratteri. Stadium security, ticket sales, catering, cleaning services, medical services, and, until 2024, even team transportation – all these areas were infiltrated by the D'Alessandro clan. The investigations by the National Anti-Mafia Directorate paint an alarming picture surrounding Serie B club Juve Stabia.

According to key witness Pasquale Rapicano, the Menti Stadium was “in the hands” of the mafia family, who are said to have even appointed the head of the youth department.

Son of Mafia boss wanted time on duty

In an intercepted phone call from August 21, the son of a boss serving time in strict custody complains to his father because a youth coach has benched him. The father then advises him to speak to the club's team manager on his behalf. Naples police chief Maurizio Agricola emphasizes that there were also numerous people with criminal records and stadium bans in the stands.

“I do things here in the stadium that you can’t do.” A stadium ban offender to a police officer

One of them: Giovanni Imparato, described in the files as a confidant of the D'Alessandro clan. Despite receiving a three-year stadium ban in 2023, he was caught at the turnstiles of the Menti Stadium on February 9. "I do things here in the stadium that you can't do," he reportedly told the officer who identified him. Three ultra leaders with clan ties even took the stage at the celebration organized by the city on May 29 to honor the team.

Anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo (2nd from right) at the press conference on Tuesday. © ANSA / Ciro Fusco

Now the prefecture could order the postponement of some games in order to reorganize the services controlled by the mafia. Juve Stabia's home game against Bari next Wednesday is in jeopardy, as is the one against Palermo on November 8th. FC Südtirol is unlikely to be directly affected for the time being, as they will only visit the seventh-placed team from Campania on Boxing Day.

What's next now?

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor's office of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has already requested the investigation files. The Juve Stabia case is not an isolated incident, but the first ever in Serie B. Similar investigations and measures were previously carried out at the southern Italian third-division clubs Foggia and Crotone. "Similar measures could affect other clubs in the future," warns anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo.