Why Calafiori, Leão & Coutinho are among names linked to Serie A escort scandal despite no confirmed involvement

FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 08: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy in action during a Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Calafiori & Leao linked to scandal as investigation continues

Formally named in the prosecutor’s request to the investigating judge are Cheickh Niasse of Verona and former Inter and Lazio player Dejan Stankovic, along with his son Filip.

The wider list, which according to Il Giornale runs to more than fifty footballers, emerged from a list of search keywords included in a search warrant executed last Monday, used to direct the technical analysis of seized devices. The prosecutor’s office does not include such names arbitrarily, suggesting they appeared in the intercepted communications.

Among the keywords identified are the names of numerous current and former Inter and Milan players: Bastoni, Bellanova, Bisseck, Hakimi, Coutinho, Skriniar, Carlos Augusto, De Winter, Leão, Giroud and Menez. Also listed are Calafiori, Huijsen, Vlahovic, Arthur Melo, Scamacca, Ruggeri, Daniel Maldini and Nuno Tavares.

It is impossible to determine at this stage whether any of those named actually engaged with the alleged network, their appearance in search keywords alone does not constitute any wrongdoing or confirmed involvement.