Tony Labbozzetta, the controversial former president of the soccer team Club Marconi in Sydney, Australia, is attempting a comeback bid as reported by Kate McClymont for The Sydney Morning Herald:
In 1999 he was banned for a year after a magistrate found that he had ''openly exploited the club to his own benefit on an ongoing basis.'' * * * Two members of the former football chief's family have alleged mafia involvement according to a confidential police report obtained by the Herald. The report names two of his relatives as suspected Mafia figures. His cousin, Frank, has been described as ''Il Capo'' in the South Australian Parliament. An investigation by The Age this year revealed that Mr Labbozzetta and the Sydney property developer Pat Sergi had lobbied Liberal politicians to prevent the Victorian mafia figure Francesco Madafferi being deported. Madafferi has since been charged with money laundering, drug importation and conspiracy to murder. Mr Sergi was named at the Woodward royal commission as being a principal in Robert Trimbole's Griffith drug syndicate. The late crime boss fled the country using an airline ticket in a false name obtained from the travel agency of Mr Labbozzetta's family. Mr Sergi and the head of Parramatta Eels, Roy Spagnolo, who are Club Marconi members, have been hitting the phones to muster support for Mr Labbozzetta's attempt to wrest control of the club from its president, Tony Campolongo, who is seeking re-election.
