We’ve reached the end of our tether: or perhaps even beyond...

Two men, dressed to the nines, toast in the hospitality area of a football stadium after reaching an agreement, a deal beneficial for both. From their looks and serious expressions, it is clear that the pact does not concern a simple player transfer, but something much bigger: money, so much that it could set entire generations for life.

It may look like a scene from a movie, or a noir-style comic, but it unfortunately represents a very realistic scenario, referring to the troubled world of Italian football. An environment that appears increasingly influenced by organized crime and subservient to it, resulting in a slow but relentless disintegration.

The sporting results leave no room for doubt. Club teams struggle to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League and, when they do, they are increasingly swept away like snow in the sun, not only by major continental powers such as Bayern Monaco, Paris Saint Germain or Real Madrid, but also by clubs with far less prestige that until a few seasons ago were considered little more than "easy opponents".

If we move to the national team, things get, if possible, even worse. We have missed the last two World Cups and the third, after the heavy defeats against Norway (1-7 on aggregate), will likely have to be earned in front of seventy thousand spectators at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, in a fiery atmosphere against an opponent with nothing to lose. We will see how it goes, but all the signs of yet another impending disaster are there.

In this scenario, further direct accusations have arrived from journalist and writer, mafia expert, Roberto Saviano, who without mincing words continues to describe Inter and its president, Beppe Marotta, as completely colluded with the system of organized crime, citing reliable judicial sources such as the statements of the informant Andrea Beretta.

And so, while Gravina continues to ramble about hypothetical reforms that will never see the light (like all those promised during his presidency) or a vaguely defined "return to technique at the expense of tactics", a club that would not even meet the minimum requirements for league registration holds Serie A hostage, using intimidation methods conveyed through friendly media.

An Inter player like Bastoni commits an act of total unsportsmanlike behavior? From stadiums all over Italy comes an outraged reaction, with whistles directed at the player at every touch of the ball, but the propaganda machine kicks in to minimize, mediate, downplay and clean up the player’s image.

Do the Nerazzurri suffer an alleged refereeing injustice following very questionable episodes? All previous favorable decisions are instantly erased and, through interviews with the usual embarrassing figures such as Moratti or La Russa, the narrative of a team wronged by the system is revived.

A masterpiece of truth reversal, with the same referees who were criticized being praised for their performance, yet still sidelined by the AIA. The message is very clear: you cannot wrong the friends of friends. When they ask, they must be satisfied, whether they are right or not.

The logical conclusion, supported by the reasoning of Saviano and of all those who have chosen to connect the dots instead of looking the other way, is very simple: the economic interests at stake extend beyond football and are too significant to be challenged.

In order to protect a single subject at all costs, the choice has been made to bring down all the others, both on and off the pitch. Sometimes directly, as in the case of Juventus and to a lesser and purely sporting extent Milan, other times indirectly, as for all the other clubs that have had to swallow bitter pills (think of Napoli and the racism case Juan Jesus-Acerbi) when their interests clashed with those of the "state team".

The result? While people stubbornly argue about tactics, technique and lack of talent (false, just look at the strong performances of youth national teams), the entire movement has lost credibility in the eyes of neutral observers, and consequently sponsors and investors.

No one, including TV networks, wants to invest in a league perceived as semi-mafia, and while other European leagues thrive, selling rights, partnerships and signing commercial deals, here the federation president only raises his voice to ask the government to legalize betting sponsorships, currently banned by law.

A move that, not surprisingly, would once again benefit Inter, which carries on its shirts the name of one of the largest betting companies. More than a president, a spokesperson — a message delivered from above to those concerned. And it does not matter that gambling has ruined many families; it suits the insiders this way, and those who can understand, will understand.

Guys, we’re at the end of the line — actually past it. If something or someone does not intervene to restore legality and order, Italian football is destined to sink further in the coming years. Forget Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, Bodo or Galatasaray — soon even Azerbaijan or Montenegro, Pafos or Kairat Almaty will be thrashing us.

And the ironic part is that someone, like Andrea Agnelli, had even tried to warn everyone. But hey, "Juve steals", better to push him away like an outcast and trust those who supposedly care about football for real.

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