Just 12 years ago he lifted the World Cup
Vincenzo Iaquinta has been sentenced to two years in prison as part of a mafia trial after being found guilty of illegal possession of two firearms.
The former Juventus and Italy striker was indicted in December 2015 for illegal possession of firearms, as well as intention to aid the ‘Ndrangheta’, the Calabrian mafia group.
He was sentenced on Wednesday morning for possessing two revolvers and 126 bullets after they were found in his Reggio Emilia home in February 2015. However, he was cleared of any association with the Ndrangheta mafia group.
His father Giuseppe, though, was found guilty of affiliation to the ‘Ndrangheta’ group and will serve 19 years in behind bars.
Iaquinta and his father took their frustration out on the jury after the sentencing, allegedly shouting “It’s ridiculous, shame on you” at the jurors, as reported by Sky Sports.
“In our family, we don’t even know what ‘Ndrangheta is,” Iaquinta is reported to have said after the verdict.
“It can’t be possible. They ruined my life out of nothing, because I’m from Calabria. I’m suffering for my family and my kids, and I haven’t done anything.”
During a hearing back in May, Iaquinta explained that he had acquired the guns “for the future more than anything else,”, claiming that he spent a lot of time at a shooting ranger after retiring from football.
As new Italian law states, he will not go to prison until all levels of appeal are satisfied.
The trial put more than 140 people in front of a jury, in one of northern Italy’s most high-profile mafia trials.
During his career as a footballer, Iaquinta won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 win over Ghana. He also has one Serie A title to his name from his time with Juventus when they won their second of seven straight Scudetti in 2013.
