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Udine, Italy – A 42-year-old man was acquitted on a technicality, while a 37-year-old woman received a prison sentence of one year and nine months after being accused of passing counterfeit currency in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The ruling came from Judge Carla Missera of the Udine Tribunal on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, according to court records.
The case originated in January 2021, when the woman attempted to use forged 100 and 50 euro banknotes at five businesses in the area, successfully exchanging the counterfeit money for goods at two locations. Her method involved purchasing low-value items with the fake bills and receiving genuine change, according to investigators. If challenged, she would leave the store, escaping in a vehicle driven by an accomplice.
The woman’s actions were captured on surveillance cameras at the businesses, and a shopkeeper managed to photograph the getaway car. This photograph proved crucial in the investigation.
The vehicle in question was initially registered to Udinese Calcio, the local Serie A football club. When stopped by Carabinieri, the 42-year-old man claimed to be a friend of the club’s president when questioned about his connection to the team. However, authorities determined he had no official relationship with the club’s leadership.
Further investigation revealed that Udinese Calcio had recently sold the vehicle to a car dealership, which subsequently sold it to another party. The transfer of ownership had not yet been officially completed at the time of the incident, leaving the car formally listed under the club’s name.
The Stadio Friuli, currently known as Bluenergy Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is located in Udine and serves as the home ground for Udinese Calcio. The stadium has a capacity of 25,144 and is situated approximately 4 kilometers from the city center, near the A-23 motorway. The stadium underwent significant reconstruction between 2013 and 2016, including the removal of the athletics track and the rebuilding of three stands closer to the pitch, at a cost of around €50 million. Udinese Calcio holds a 99-year lease on the stadium, granted by the City of Udine in 2013.
The 37-year-old woman was convicted of participating in the scheme to spend counterfeit money, while the 42-year-old man received a “dubitative” acquittal, meaning the court found insufficient evidence to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt.
