A court in Rosario, Argentina, has sentenced Sergio Di Fani, a supporter of Newell’s Old Boys who was found guilty of organizing threats and acts of intimidation against Argentine star Ángel Di María and his family, to 7 years and 6 months in prison.
A serious case of threats against the world champion, Ángel Di María, has ended with a harsh ruling from Argentina’s justice system. Sergio Di Fani, 45, a supporter of Newell’s Old Boys, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after being found guilty of organizing acts of intimidation and threats against the footballer and his relatives during 2024.
According to the charges, the aim of these actions was to prevent Di María’s return to Argentina to play for Rosario Central, the historic rival of Newell’s Old Boys. At that time, the Argentine forward was part of Benfica in Portugal, before returning in the summer of 2025 to the club where he had started his career.
According to the case file, the acts of intimidation included shots fired with a weapon near the residential complex on the outskirts of Rosario, where Di María owns an apartment, as well as the sending of threatening messages.
One of the most shocking episodes involves the footballer’s sister, who found a pig’s head with bullet marks in front of her real estate office. Next to it was left a threatening message warning that the footballer’s daughter could be the next target.
These actions were intended to create fear within Di María’s family and to influence his decision to return to Argentine football.
Di Fani’s sentence is not the only one in this case. In June, Belén Gutiérrez, 25, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for her involvement in the events, while a third suspect remains in pretrial detention pending further judicial developments.