State and Carabinieri police dealt a huge blow to the mafia in the area of the southern city of Foggia with the execution of arrest warrants for 30 people in a big operation.

The suspects are alleged members of the Moretti-Pellegrino-Lanza and Sinesi-Francavilla mafia clans.

Around 10 of the suspects are convicts who were already in jail.

The accusations include alleged mafia association, extortion and attempted murder.

According to official case documentation, it is suspected, among other things, that managers, former managers and a former coach of Foggia soccer team were pressured by the mobsters to sign a player.

Foggia are currently second-last in Italian soccer's second tier, Serie B.