Argentine football fan jailed for threats over Di Maria return
The intimidation campaign was linked to a power struggle among Newell's Old Boys ultras over Angel Di Maria's return to rival club Rosario Central.
An Argentine court sentenced a football fan, Sergio Di Vanni, to seven and a half years in prison on Wednesday for threatening Angel Di Maria in 2024. Di Vanni allegedly ordered acts of intimidation against Di Maria's family in an attempt to prevent the World Cup winner from returning to Argentina to play for his boyhood club, Rosario Central.
Di Maria had initially abandoned plans to move back to Argentina for his family's safety, but ultimately changed his mind and returned to play for Rosario Central in 2025. The threats included gunshots fired near Di Maria's property and the dumping of a pig's head with a bullet wound outside an estate agency owned by his sister.
Prosecutors stated that the two convicted individuals carried out the threats in exchange for four million pesos. A third suspect remains in pre-trial detention. The intimidation campaign was reportedly linked to an internal power struggle among Newell's ultras. Di Vanni's sentence also covered other offenses related to his involvement in the supporters' group.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Argentine football fan jailed for threats over Di Maria return freemalaysiatoday.com
