Police say one of Italy's most wanted men was betrayed by his 'passion for soccer,' prompting arrest
An Italian fugitive was arrested in Greece after he was spotted celebrating a soccer match.
Vincenzo La Porta was on the lam for more than a decade, accused of ties to the mafia.
"Betraying him was his passion for soccer," Italian police said.
An Italian man who had been on the run from police for more than a decade was arrested after he was spotted outside a restaurant in Greece decked out in the colors of his favorite soccer team and celebrating their recent championship.
Vincenzo La Porta, 60, was on Italy's list of "100 most dangerous fugitives," the BBC reported, having been convicted in absentia of fraud, tax evasion, and ties to the Camorra criminal organization, one of the country's oldest mafia-style groups and a big player in the illicit drug trade.
In a statement, Italian police said La Porta was spotted outside a restaurant in Corfu, Greece, and later arrested him while he was on the street riding a scooter.
"Betraying him was his passion for soccer and for the Napoli team," police said, per the Associated Press. La Porta was spotted in a photo posted online outside a restaurant, wearing his team's blue colors, the day that they won the Series A title, its first in 33 years. "With the championship victory, La Porta couldn't resist celebrating."
The soccer match took place in early May. It is unclear when exactly the police arrested La Porta.
La Porta's attorney, in an interview with The Washington Post on Sunday, confirmed his client's arrest. "He has many ailments," Athanasios Giannakouris said, noting he is due to appear in court Monday. "I hope for the best tomorrow."
La Porta was working as an assistant chef in Corfu, where he has a wife and child. If extradited, he faces a 14-year prison sentence in his home country.
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