Rome, 1 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - More than a dozen high-ranking "ultra" fans from football clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan have been arrested in a large-scale raid by the Italian police in the country's second city.

The suspects are accused of extortion, assault and other crimes, the police announced on Monday. Some of those arrested are also accused of having close links to the mafia. The anti-mafia authorities are investigating.

Sixteen men were remanded in custody and three others are now under house arrest. According to police, the specific allegation is that the ultra groups of the two city clubs are said to have formed a kind of alliance. The police spoke of "criminal conspiracies with mafia-like methods."

The ultras are said to have coordinated and organized the illegal sale of tickets for Milan and Inter matches at the San Siro. The fans are also alleged to have demanded protection money from vendors and for parking spaces in front of the stadium.

Police also say they instigated brawls in front of and inside the stadium during matches.

According to Italian media reports, the big names of the city's ultra scene are among those arrested, including the two leaders of the respective ultra groups.

The head of the Inter ultras only recently took over from his predecessor, who was arrested after the killing of a member of a powerful mafia family.

The bodyguard of the rapper Fedez, who is well-known in Italy, is also among those arrested.

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