French media exclusive: Inter Milan is trapped in a huge financial scandal, the team should have gone bankrupt and removed or even relegated

According to the exclusive report of French media Footmercato on June 4, Inter Milan is currently in a huge financial scandal.

Inter Milan is deeply trapped in the quagmire of darkness. Simeone Inzaghi is about to leave office when he loses Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, and a confidential report reveals shocking inside stories: opaque financial operations, suspicious sponsors, dangerous connections with extremist fan organizations, and suspected institutional intervention. This perfect storm will overturn the entire system and awaken the ghosts of the "phone door" era.

The defeat in the field, the abyss off the field Inter Milan is experiencing the darkest week in recent years: the Champions League was humiliated by Paris, and the meritorious coach Inzaghi said goodbye. Now the explosive financial report has made the Nerazzurri even worse. This confidential document written by City of London consultants reveals illegal operations in club financial management, abnormal associations with interest groups and large-scale institutional intervention. False sponsorship, financial fraud, and the Italian Football Association (FIGC) suspected of manipulating league access - the entire system seems to support Inter Milan maintaining its peak position, and the report pointed out that its real economic situation should have led to bankruptcy liquidation, Serie A delisting and even relegation.

Financial doubts in Suning's era

This report focuses on the financial operations of Suning's early years of in charge (2016-2019). The documents disclosed by the Italian website Affaritaliani.it questioned the legality and authenticity of some of the revenue at that time, especially involving Asian sponsors. After taking power in 2016, Suning Group generated nearly 300 million euros (about 2.34 billion yuan) in three seasons (2016-2019). The report shows that the amount accounts for 27% of Inter Milan's total revenue in the same period, of which 131.4 million euros came from internal transactions of Suning Group and another 165.6 million euros came from third parties identified by analysts as "suspicious". These short-term and difficult to track sponsorship revenues are described as tools to artificially beautify accounts to meet the UEFA Financial Fairness Act (FFP).

It should be noted that Inter Milan was punished for violating FFP in 2015 and was required to achieve balance of income and expenditure by 2019. Club spending surged during Suning's term: Player and staff costs increased from 124 million euros in 2016 to 192 million euros in 2019, and operating expenses soared from 211 million to more than 310 million euros during the same period.

Traditional income (broadcast share, tickets) cannot fill the deficit, and commercial sponsorship - especially contracts with Chinese companies - becomes the only quick and effective means of regulation. The partners named include: Fengsheng Holdings (Tourism), Jinding Investment (Online Travel), iMedia (Sports Marketing) and an anonymous company (pay 10 million euros entry fee + 25 million euros annual fee for Southeast Asian brand promotion rights). The report pointed out that some companies have no connection with football, and many have never disclosed their financial information.

Before Suning took over, Inter Milan's basic income (excluding transfer income) remained stable at 176-186 million euros per season. Three years later, club revenue increased by 46% to 651.5 million euros, of which Asian sponsorship contributed 297 million euros. This amazing growth is accompanied by multiple doubts: doubts about traceability of funds, unknown sponsor economy, and mystery of independence from owners.

Structural doubts behind growth

In addition to the abnormal income of Chinese sponsors, the report also reveals the overall structural flaws of Inter Milan: financial situation is at stake, management operations are questionable, and suspected institutional intervention to maintain the club's existence. The document states that the club is in a "negative asset state" and that judicial liquidation should have been initiated in accordance with Italian regulations. The core basis is the continued deterioration of owners' equity and unsustainable debt levels. Cash flow is created through "ghost sponsorship" and a contractor without business logic, and is accused of evading the fraudulent means of the Italian Football Association and UEFA financial rules. The report said the Italian Professional Football Financial Supervisory Committee (COVISOC, which has a function similar to the French DNCG) failed to expel Inter from Serie A under pressure. Former members of the institution have revealed deliberate regulatory deficiencies under external intervention. The document also shows that the Italian Football Association has tailored rules to favor Inter Milan - other clubs were severely punished for even slight violations during the same period. The report also questioned the club's ultimate shareholder transparency and the control chain built through offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands (tax blacklist area). Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abdidi publicly called for "complete transparency as glass" to directly link regulatory dereliction of duty with the negligence of COVID-19.

Marlotta's bond role

The report focuses on Inter Milan's current CEO Giuseppe Marlotta: He has repeatedly contacted extreme fans to organize and resolve the crisis. Describing words such as "Malota succumbs to pressure" or "solved through Malota" are frequently seen. Analysis and comparison of the Juventus period: Marlotta regularly meets with the leaders of gangs in private places, but never triggers an official investigation. Although there is no judicial conviction, the persistence of such contacts is documented. The report emphasizes the contradiction between public acclaim (such as Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sara awarded the Golden Ambrocchio prize and won the second star) and the investigation of extreme fans' association. The timing of journalist Fabricio Biasin and lawyer Iniazio Larusa's debut together a few days after the extreme fan scandal broke out is also regarded as meaningful. Chairman Zhang Kangyang was absent from key procedures due to passport issues, which further aroused doubts about club governance. The shadow of systemic corruption The report reveals far from ordinary financial violations, but outlines a system of financial, political and institutional conspiracy, allowing Inter Milan to circumvent rules but avoid accountability. If the allegations are confirmed, this will be the biggest scandal in Italian football since the "phone door" in 2006 and the 2003 Parmalat bankruptcy case. The seriousness of the allegations, the suspected role of the Italian Football Association and COVID-19, the nature of the funds, offshore networks and political condons may not only shake Inter Milan, but also the foundation of the entire Italian football system.