A FORMER Serie A club has been placed under judicial administration after police found evidence of MAFIA infiltration.
FC Crotone were last in Italy’s top-flight in the 2020/21 season but were relegated after a 19th-place finish.
The Calabria-based side were unable to stabilise in Serie B and suffered back-to-back relegations to Serie C.
The club has since remained in Italy’s third-tier and are currently 7th in the regional Group C.
Crotone has now been placed under judicial administration for a year after cops found “sufficient evidence” of pervasive Mafia infiltration.
Crotone is based in the south of Calabria, which is also home to the powerful ‘Ndrangheta Mafia.
The infamous ‘Ndrangheta are said to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
Their crimes have included murder, violent ambushes, torched cars and even animal slaughter, with puppies, dolphins and goats beheaded or slain in nightmarish warnings.
The decision over the football club will see it continue its sporting activities.
However, it will be under the supervision of court-appointed administrators.
Crotone itself is not under investigation by the authorities.
The city of Catanzaro prosecutors’ office have claimed that Crotone had been “subjected, over the last decade, directly or at least indirectly, to conditions of intimidation and subjugation by members of local ‘Ndrangheta clans.”
Crotone has also released a statement following the announcement.
The club has insisted that it will “collaborate” with the authorities over the investigation.
A club statement read: “We will carefully examine the interim order from the Catanzaro Court and prepare for the hearing scheduled for October 13th.
“We note that this is not a punitive measure at all.
“The measure was adopted because the Judicial Authority believes that FC Crotone has been subjected to the ‘Ndrangheta’s power of intimidation and does not even remotely suggest complicity or connivance by the club, its shareholders, or its managers and collaborators.
“FC Crotone will actively collaborate with the judicial administrators appointed by the Court to continue its activities in the best interests of the club, its fans, and the sport in general.”
Crotone was founded back in 1923 and plays its home games at the 16,547-capacity Stadio Ezio Scida.
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