A 44-year-old Slovakian man’s long run from authorities ended abruptly this week when he was arrested in Milan, Italy, while attempting to attend a Winter Olympics hockey game. The arrest concluded a 16-year evasion of Italian law enforcement following allegations of theft dating back to 2010.
The man was apprehended Wednesday after checking into a guesthouse near Milan, reportedly after hotel staff alerted police, according to a statement released by the Carabinieri police force via Reuters. He had traveled to Italy to watch Slovakia compete against Finland in the men’s ice hockey tournament.
Despite the man’s efforts to remain undetected, authorities successfully located him before the game. Slovakia ultimately defeated Finland 4-1 in their opening group play match on Wednesday, as reported by Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images.
Following his arrest, the man was taken to the San Vittore prison in Milan and will serve a sentence of 11 months and seven days. Had he remained free for just three more days, he might have been able to watch Slovakia play Italy in their next group-play game, but authorities determined that would have been too great a risk.
The case bears a striking resemblance to a plot point from the film “Heat,” according to some observers. The story suggests that, like the character Neil McCauley, the man could have continued to evade capture, but his desire to attend the sporting event led to his downfall.
Slovakia’s win over Finland marked a strong start for the team in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Fox News reports that the team is now led by Montreal Canadiens superstar Juraj Slafkovsky, who brings Olympic experience to the roster. The team won the bronze medal in Beijing when NHL players were not yet allowed to compete.
This incident highlights the complexities of international travel and the long reach of law enforcement, even across borders. It also underscores the passion that fans have for their national teams, sometimes leading them to take significant risks.
