Former Italian football star, Vincenzo Iaquinta, will stand trial together with another 139 people for having links with southern Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta’ mafia. Iaquinta’s indictments include possession of illegal firearms as well as an intention to assist the Southern-Italy based crime group, who are rumoured to control a major portion of the world’s illegal cocaine trade.
The 36-year-old’s lawyer, Carlo Taormina, also confirmed that Giuseppe Iaquinta, father of the player, faces a more serious accusation of mafia association.
Iaquinta retired from the game in 2013, having spent his entire career playing in Italy. He last featured in the Serie A for Cesena in 2012 but enjoyed the best days of his career in Udinese and Juventus. At his peak, the striker was a handful to defenders excelling in the air, and when it came to bringing other players into the game.
The highlight of his career came in 2006, when he played in five of Italy’s seven FIFA World Cup matches including the final against France that crowned the Azzuri as world champions. Iaquinta scored his first international goal in Italy’s opening match of the World Cup, scoring from a counter-attack to confirm Italy’s 2-0 win against Ghana.
Serie A scandals
Italy’s club football has never been far from scandals, constantly being in the shadow of match-fixing. The situation most notably came to light and grabbed attention after undercover police deciphered taped conversations of Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, speaking to officials in order to ensure that Juve’s matches were officiated by referees who favoured the Turin giants.
Further investigations sent shockwaves through Italian football and beyond resulting in points deduction for AC Milan and Fiorentina, Juventus were stripped off their two league titles and relegated to Serie B.
Former Juventus stiker Iaquinta’s links to the ‘Ndrangheta’ group should be particularly concerning, giving their reputation. The mafia group based in Calabria in the southwestern tip of the Italian mainland has grown steadily in the last 10 years due to it’s prominent role in smuggling cocaine and other drugs to Europe largely from parts of South America.
Police believe that the group which they describe as the most active, richest and powerful syndicate in Europe uses legitimate activities in the north to recycle the huge amounts of cash their drugs business generates. The mafia group also has alliances with Colombian and Mexican mobsters and a study put its annual turnover in 2013 at over 50 billion euros.
Their name, ‘Ndrangheta’, comes from the Greek word for courage and loyalty, and prospective members are required to take an elaborate oath to join the clan.
Iaquinta’s trial is set to start in March 2016, as proposed by judge Francesca Zavaglia.
