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Italian police probe football clubs over false visas for young African players

Italian police are investigating football clubs for allegedly getting young African players false papers in a probe that could involve Serie A teams, national media reported on Thursday.

Published: 20 July 2017 15:38 CEST
Italian police probe football clubs over false visas for young African players
File photo of Italian police cars: Andreas Solaro/AFP

The inquiry centres on AC Prato, which plays in the Lega Pro league, amid suspicions managers “favoured the illegal entry into Italy of African minors, some of whom were then sold to superior clubs,” the Gazzetta dello Sport said.

The daily said the offices of two unnamed Serie A teams and one Serie B team had been searched as part of the probe, but added that the teams were believed to have bought the players without knowing about the fraud.

Managers in Prato are also suspected of match-fixing, the reports said. Four people including two of the mangers were placed in preventative detention by police on Thursday.

The Lega Pro is the third professional division, below Serie A and B.

Police suspect those held of having helped young Africans, mainly Ivorians, to obtain false papers or fraudulent family reconciliation visas.

READ ALSO: Italian footballer moves clubs, retires, and comes out of retirement all within two weeks

DIGITAL NOMADS IN ITALY

Are applications open for Italy’s digital nomad visa?

Italy's government has finally published details of how the country's much-anticipated digital nomad visa will work. But some would-be applicants have asked whether this means they can go ahead and apply.

Published: 12 April 2024 10:09 CEST
Are applications open for Italy’s digital nomad visa?

After a two-year wait, Italy last week published the implementation decree which sets out the terms and requirements for its digital nomad visa.

But the government made no announcements about the decree, or what it means for would be applicants, and the text itself doesn’t specify a start date from which the visa officially becomes available.

So is it actually possible to apply yet? This is one question many would-be applicants have been asking in The Local’s Living in Italy group on Facebook.

Q&A: Your questions answered about Italy’s digital nomad visa

The answer appears to be yes, for some – but it depends on the consulate

The digital nomad visa law came into force as of the latest decree’s publication, meaning applicants can now make an appointment with the Italian consulate in their country at which they’ll need to file the paperwork.

READ ALSO: ‘Finally!’: Excitement and doubt as Italy confirms new digital nomad visa

Several of The Local’s readers have already booked their appointments. One reader in Philadelphia said they have an appointment confirmed in May.

However, another reader told us they were unable to book an appointment at the Miami consulate, where they were told: “For digital nomad visas, we have not yet received any information. Therefore you cannot apply yet for this type of visa.”

If your nearest consulate does allow you to apply, you’ll also need to check with them which documents are required, and get hold of the correct visa application form ahead of the appointment. The forms and the procedure for filling them out can differ by consulate.

You can find a guide to the application process and requirements here, and we’ve answered more readers’ questions about how the digital nomad visa works in our Q&A.

Are you planning to apply for Italy’s digital nomad visa? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us by email or in the comments section below if you’d like to share your experience.

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