Naples – The IV criminal section of the Court of Napoli, chaired by Judge Taglialatela, issued the sentences for the members of the so-called “Masseria Group”, ultras of the Napoli “A” curve, involved in the clashes with Ajax fans during the Champions League match on 12 October 2022.
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The decisions of the judging panel led to a series of acquittals, particularly on charges of criminal association, and to light sentences for some of the defendants.
The accusations and the acquittals
The five defendants – Gennaro Grosso, Carmine Della Cerra, Luigi Piacentile, Carmine Crispo and Fabio Mascioletti – were accused of criminal association and of having attacked and stabbed several Dutch fans in the centre of Naples on the evening of 11 October 2022, the eve of the match.
The judges acquitted all five of the most serious charge, that of criminal association, deeming the evidence to support this charge insufficient.
The sentences
Despite the acquittals, some of the defendants received light sentences for the attacks on Dutch supporters:
Gennaro Grosso, a well-known member of the “Gruppo Masseria” and a former resigning member of the commission established by the City of Naples to commemorate Diego Armando Maradona, was sentenced to one year and two months in prison with a suspended sentence for the attack on two Dutch fans. The sentence is less than the three years requested by the Prosecutor's Office.
Carmine Crispo and Fabio Mascioletti were sentenced to 8 months in prison with a suspended sentence for the attack on Dutch fan Jan Arno, who suffered a wound that healed in 21 days and was hospitalized.
Luigi Piacentile and Carmine Della Cerra were instead acquitted of all the crimes charged.
The context
Clashes between Napoli and Ajax fans had caused a stir in October 2022, reigniting the debate on violence in stadiums and in the surrounding streets. The “Gruppo Masseria”, which takes its name from the Neapolitan district of the same name, has been at the centre of attention for years for its role in Napoli’s “A” curve and for its links with the ultras environment.
Gennaro Grosso, in particular, had ended up in the spotlight for a photo taken in a hotel in Naples together with the president of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, and for his role in the commission for the statue of Maradona, from which he resigned in February 2021.
The reactions
The sentences have provoked mixed reactions. On the one hand, some have stressed that the acquittals demonstrate the lack of concrete evidence for the charge of criminal association. On the other, some observers criticize the leniency of the sentences, believing them insufficient to discourage episodes of violence related to football.
The case ends with a verdict that, on the one hand, acquits the main defendants of the most serious charges, but on the other leaves open questions about the management of security during sporting events and the ultras phenomenon in Italy.
Article published on March 7, 2025 - 20pm
