Bari football club under criminal probe as De Laurentiis plans debt‑wipe rescue

Italian prosecutors are expected to open a criminal file against club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and his son Luigi for alleged false communications and fraudulent bankruptcy relating to SSC Bari’s finances. Investigators say the club accrued losses of about €30 million between 2019 and 2025 and point to the 2023 sale of goalkeeper Elia Caprile to Napoli for €2.2 million, which lacked a future‑profit clause before the player later moved to Cagliari for €8 million.

In response, the De Laurentiis family’s holding Filmauro is preparing an emergency financial move. It intends to write off roughly €7 million of the €9 million credit it holds on Bari, converting it into a non‑repayable “advance” to reduce the club’s debt. The action is aimed at meeting a mandatory capital‑increase deadline that expired at the end of June when the Covid‑related fiscal shield ended. Bari must restore a €130 000 capital base by the end of July or risk liquidation under civil‑code insolvency rules. The debt‑wipe is designed to keep the club solvent and enable a rapid return to Serie C.