An ongoing investigation in Milan into an alleged prostitution ring has brought Italian football into focus, with reports stating that more than 60 current and former Serie A players have appeared in case materials as clients, while authorities have confirmed that none of the footballers are under investigation. The probe, led by Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, centres on a Milan-based illegal events-promotion company accused of organising high-end gatherings that included access to escorts, drugs and nightlife services for wealthy clients.
Investigation details and arrests
According to multiple Italian media reports, including La Gazzetta dello Sport and coverage referenced by Marca, the company operated in Milan and offered what were described as “all-inclusive luxury events” to high-profile individuals. Investigators have seized approximately €1.2 million (around Rs 13.2 crore) linked to the operation, and four individuals have been arrested following months of surveillance. The packages included hotel stays, nightclub parties, escorts and the use of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, which is illegal for recreational use in Italy. The events were reportedly held both in Milan and on the Greek island of Mykonos. Under Italian law, prostitution itself is not a crime, but profiting from prostitution is illegal, which is why the investigation is focused on the organisers rather than those listed as clients.
Wiretaps and evidence gathered
The case has been built in part through intercepted communications gathered during the investigation. In one wiretapped conversation cited in reports, a person says: “There’s a friend of mine, a Formula 1 driver… who’s coming to Milan tonight, he wants a girl.” In another exchange, a woman is heard telling an associate that she may be pregnant after one of the encounters and asks him to retrieve chat records to confirm the date. Other intercepted conversations also referenced the use of laughing gas during these gatherings. Authorities confirmed that devices seized from those arrested are being analysed by the Milan public prosecutor’s office, with keyword searches forming part of the evidence review.
Names appearing in the investigation
A list of names linked to the investigation has been reported by Il Giornale and ANSA, with details further carried by Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport. Reports state that around 65 to 70 footballers’ surnames have appeared in the prosecutor’s inquest as keywords or references in communications, with players connected to clubs including Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Atalanta, Lazio, Hellas Verona, Monza and Como.Among the names cited are:
- Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan defender
- Achraf Hakimi, former Inter Milan full-back
- Rafael Leao, AC Milan forward
- Olivier Giroud, French striker and AC Milan forward
- Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus striker
- Philippe Coutinho, former Liverpool midfielder
- Arthur Melo, Juventus midfielder
- Daniel Maldini, AC Milan midfielder and son of legendary Italian defender Paolo Maldini
Additional surnames listed include Cancellieri, Huijsen, Mota Carvalho, Niasse, Petagna, Ranocchia, Ruggeri, Skriniar, Vicario and Zortea.Other names cited in full include Soualiho Meite, Nuno Tavares and Carlos Augusto.Further mentions across reports include Bellanova, Calafiori, Bisseck, Pinamonti, Ricci and Scamacca, with links across clubs such as Atalanta, Lazio and Inter, while references tied to Juventus also appear through names such as Vlahovic and Arthur Melo.Separate reporting has also noted that one of Real Madrid’s recent signings was referenced among the wider pool of names, although no specific individual has been formally identified in the material cited.Former Inter and Lazio midfielder Dejan Stankovic is also reported to have been in contact with one of the arrested individuals on eight occasions. Authorities have also noted that a Formula 1 driver and hockey players were among those referenced, although the driver has not been named.
Player responses and clarifications
Some individuals named in reports have publicly distanced themselves from the case.Rafael Leao, the AC Milan forward, said: “I want to make it clear that I am completely unrelated to the facts being investigated. I am not involved and I have not committed any crime.”Separately, the lawyer representing Riccardo Calafiori, the Italy international defender, stated that his client’s name does not appear in any official documents related to the investigation.
Nature of involvement and legal position
Italian authorities have made clear that the footballers named are not under investigation. The inclusion of names is based on mentions in phone calls, messages or as search keywords within seized material, and does not establish participation in illegal activity. Prosecutors have not confirmed which individuals, if any, paid for sexual services. “The girls were totally compliant, so there is no violence; no evidence of violence has emerged in the acts of the investigation,” the Guardia di Finanza said, adding, “Unfortunately it is not a crime, it is not classified as such.”
How the network operated
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the organisation arranged evenings where women were invited to have sex in exchange for money with clients, many of whom were described as high-profile individuals including professional footballers. The network reportedly retained at least 50 per cent of payments, with the remainder distributed to the women, who were paid by organisers rather than directly by clients. One woman involved in the operation said: “I kept 10% of the table of that footballer who spent three thousand, and the same with the hockey players.” Reports indicate that more than 100 women, including both Italian and foreign nationals, were involved in these events, working as escorts, models, hostesses or table companions.
Current status of the case
The investigation remains ongoing, with the Milan prosecutor’s office continuing to analyse seized devices and communications. While the case has drawn widespread attention due to the number of high-profile names mentioned, authorities have maintained a clear distinction between those under investigation, the organisers, and those referenced in the material, who currently face no legal action.
