An Italian singer and DJ is under investigation for allegedly helping blackmail Nicolò Fagioli, the former Juventus midfielder who was handed a seven-month ban from soccer in 2023 for betting on games.
Ludovico Franchitti, better known by his stage name Ludwig, is suspected of helping extort €40,000 ($46,000) from the player by threatening to expose his illegal gambling activities and ruin his career, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. He is among five individuals under investigation in connection with the case.
Prosecutors suspect the singer helped pressure Fagioli, who now plays for Fiorentina, into handing over the money after the midfielder accumulated more than €2 million in debts through illegal gambling operations.
Police executed a search warrant on October 28, seizing Franchitti’s phones, as investigators sought evidence of communications between the musician and the player, La Repubblica reported.
Threats to Expose Gambling
Franchitti, a prominent figure in Italy’s pop-dance scene, is known for his hit song Domani ci passa and collaborations with artists including Gabry Ponte and J-Ax.
His name previously emerged in messages exchanged with Fagioli in 2023, when the singer allegedly claimed to possess screenshots showing the soccer player betting on throw-ins during matches.
Investigators are examining whether those communications were used to threaten the player with public exposure unless he paid money.
Franchitti is also being investigated for allegedly organizing unauthorized betting activities, an allegation that also involves another suspect, Andrea Petrini.
Two other individuals, Luca Gerilli and an employee of a betting agency, face investigation for alleged aggravated extortion.
A fifth suspect, businessman Fabio Capretti, is being investigated for alleged self-laundering after prosecutors claimed €40,000 obtained through extortion was reinvested through commercial transactions.
An attorney representing the betting agency employee has denied the allegations against his client. No findings of guilt have been made against the suspects.
Fagioli’s Gambling Scandal
Fagioli’s Juventus career was derailed by the 2023 scandal when his gambling habits were exposed as part of a police investigation into illegal online gambling with links to organized crime.
He reportedly told the Turin Prosecutor’s Office in June that year he had amassed debts of €3 million ($3.2 million) and was receiving payment demands that involved threats and abuse.
Other prominent Italian players, including Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, were also embroiled in the investigation.
Unlike the earlier disciplinary proceedings, Fagioli is considered the alleged victim in the current criminal investigation.
Police are examining electronic messages, banking records, and financial transactions to establish whether threats were made and how the disputed €40,000 changed hands.
Fagioli previously described receiving threats of violence as his gambling debts spiraled. In testimony reported by Italian media in October 2023, he recalled creditors warning that they would break his legs if he failed to repay them.
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