Why Calafiori, Leao, Coutinho, Vlahovic named Serie A escort scandal despite no confirmed involvement | OneFootball

Italian media have named Riccardo Calafiori, Rafael Leao, Alessandro Bastoni, Dusan Vlahovic, Gianluca Scamacca and more as part of an investigation into the Serie A escort scandal.

Alessandro Bastoni Riccardo Calafiori Italy anthem

A significant number of current and former Serie A players have been named in connection with a Milan escort investigation, though it is essential to stress from the outset that none of those mentioned are under investigation and that paying for sex is not a criminal offence in Italy.

They can however be called upon to act as witnesses, and that very well may be the case for upcoming hearings.

The case centres on an alleged organised network run by Emanuele Buttini and Deborah Ronchi, and has been reported by Il Giornale, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The names of players emerged through wiretap intercepts in which escorts and their alleged associates were planning meetings.

In the official court documentation, most names were redacted for legal reasons, however, due to an administrative error, some names remained visible in the court order, including Torino’s Marcus Pedersen and Sassuolo’s Christian Volpato.

Calafiori and Leao linked to scandal as investigation continues

FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 08: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy in action during a Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Formally named in the prosecutor’s request to the investigating judge are Cheickh Niasse of Verona and former Inter and Lazio player Dejan Stankovic, along with his son Filip.

The wider list, which according to Il Giornale runs to more than fifty footballers, emerged from a list of search keywords included in a search warrant executed last Monday, used to direct the technical analysis of seized devices.

The prosecutor’s office does not include such names arbitrarily, suggesting they appeared in the intercepted communications.

Among the keywords identified are the names of numerous current and former Inter and Milan players: Alessandro Bastoni, Raoul Bellanova, Yann Bisseck, Achraf Hakimi, Philippe Coutinho, Milan Skriniar, Carlos Augusto, Koni De Winter, Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud and Jeremy Menez.

CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 01: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks dejected during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AC Milan at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Also listed are Arsenal and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, former Juventus and Roma defender Dean Huijsen, Dusan Vlahovic, Arthur Melo, Gianluca Scamacca, Matteo Ruggeri, Daniel Maldini and Nuno Tavares.

It is impossible to determine at this stage whether any of those named actually engaged with the alleged network, their appearance in search keywords alone does not constitute any wrongdoing or confirmed involvement.