Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Tuesday, October 21, 2025 9:15 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, October 21, 2025 9:50 p.m.
A new scandal shakes Italian football. Second division side Juve Stabia are accused of mafia ties in the club's management. The Romanian striker Rareș Burnete is playing at this club on loan from Lecce.
Club Juve Stabia has been placed into receivership over suspected mafia involvement, Italian prosecutors and police have announced.
The Neapolitan Camorra mafia organization has its origins in Stabia itself, and the prosecutor's office announced that an extensive investigation “revealed a system reminiscent of the mafia style in the economic activities of the club”, according to those from sportal.blic.rs.
Juve Stabia, Rareș Burnete's team, suspected of ties to the mafia: “The players only had to play, the Camorra took care of the rest”
It said the club's current ownership structure “inherited long-standing economic ties that were under mafia influence from the outset, and failed to introduce adequate controls and safeguards in response”. Brera Holdings, based in Ireland, acquired 52% of the club in June this year.
According to prosecutors, the Camorra controlled ticket sales, food delivery, equipment washing, security, player medical care and even the first team's coach travel costs.
“The players just had to play, the Camorra took care of the rest,” said Neapolitan prosecutor Nicola Gratteri. The task of the receiver will be to restore legality and transparency in the management of the club, as well as to free it from the influence of the mafia.
Last month, receivership was also imposed on third-tier club Crotone, in the southern region of Calabria, also over suspicions that organized crime had infiltrated its affairs.
Romanian striker Rareș Burnete is playing at Juve Stabia, on loan from Lecce. This season he played in 9 games and provided a decisive assist. Burnete also played at Academia Hagi, SR Brașov and Lecce. The youth international is quoted by specialized websites at 750,000 euros.
Juve Stabia is in 7th place this Serie B season, after 8 rounds. Rareș Burnete's team has 13 accumulated points and is only 5 away from the leader Modena. The formation is prepared by the Italian Ignazi Abate.
