The code of ethics for sport in the municipality of Milan: A grassroots approach against organised crime and corruption in sports

The city of Milan and the Lombardy region are traditional areas of industry and professional services, providing approximately 25 per cent of Italy’s GDP, and are historically characterised by a respect for the rule of law. However, the last decade has witnessed a gradual increase in organised crime, with judicial investigations repeatedly uncovering the presence of the Mafia in building, waste cycle management, trade, major infrastructure projects and retail commerce. Greater attention was drawn in early 2014 in connection with the organisation of Expo 2015 in Milan, when serious cases of corruption surfaced. Nonetheless, it still surprised many in Milan that organised crime extended to the world of grassroots sport. In March 2011 the Ripamonti sports facility in via Iseo was impounded as part of the Milanese anti-Mafia operation ‘Redux-Caposaldo’. The operation found that the facility was being managed by the Flachi clan, ‘which exercises all the powers typical of dominus: deciding on staff, resolving disputes, managing services and raking in the profits. And the City, as the owner of the centre, was unaware that it was funding the Flachi group by supporting its economic initiatives. As a result of the seizure, the facility was closed by the prefetto (the central state authority) and the licence was revoked by the municipality. A further arson attack on 8 October 2011 seriously damaged the building, and was clearly committed for purposes of intimidation.