The burnt remains of football journalist Luigi 'Luca' Esposito were discovered in a remote field in Salerno, Italy, with the 53-year-old also found to have been shot13:01, 21 Jul 2026Updated 11:07, 22 Jul 2026A top mafia investigator is probing the brutal execution of a prominent football journalist, who was shot dead and set on fire in a killing that has rocked the sports world.‌Italian journalist Luigi 'Luca' Esposito was reported missing on Saturday night after losing contact with friends. The 53-year-old's charred remains were then discovered several hours later, when firefighters were called to the scene of a blaze at a remote field in Salerno, Italy, on Sunday, July 19.‌Bullet casings were found next to the body, which was found inside a torched car. Local media reports the corpse was so badly burned upon discovery that identification was initially impossible, with investigators only able to ID the body after a set of car keys matched those belonging to Esposito.‌An autopsy later revealed the body had also suffered a blow to the head, along with a severe beating that had resulted in several broken bones.Prosecutors in Salerno are treating the case as a murder, with top anti-mafia chief Raffaele Cantone leading the investigation. Cantone, the former president of Italy's National Anti-Corruption Authority, said: “He was apparently killed by gunfire... and then set on fire amid the vegetation”‌The Salerno region, where Esposito was based and found dead, is well-known locally as a stronghold of the notorious Camorra syndicate - one of the oldest and most powerful mafia organisations in Italy.Operating since the 19th century, the Camorra's are infamous for infiltrating almost every aspect of Campanian society, from business to football to local politics, terrorising the population through a cycle of violence, corruption and intimidation. Esposito's sister said he was a calm man with no known enemies.While investigators continue to probe Esposito's private life for any possible motives, his professional dealings have also come under scrutiny.‌The victim, originally from Nocera Inferiore, was a passionate fan of Serie B side Salernitana 1919, running one of the club's most popular fan sites, working as a sports columnist for local news outlet La Città di Salerno, and appearing as a pundit on Italian broadcaster OttoChannel TV, covering Serie B sides including Avellino and Juve Stabia.Colleagues said he was outspoken, fearless and full of contacts in the football world.‌But the mystery has deepened after it was revealed that Esposito told friends and family for years that he also worked a day job at the Campania Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAC) - claims the agency has strenuously denied.According to Italian outlet Rai, Esposito told colleagues and friends on the day of his disappearance that he had spent the morning conducting inspections of behalf of the agency.Following his death, ARPAC put out a statement categorically denying the journalist had ever worked for them, writing: "The person indicated does not appear to have an employment relationship with Arpac, either as an employee or as a manager."Article continues belowThe agency also clarified that: "There is no evidence of any professional relationship between the agency and Esposito, who appears to be completely unrelated to the Agency's activities."Esposito had also claimed for years to be a member of The Order of Biologists of Campania and Molise (OBCM). But in a fresh statement following his death, OBCM President Arnolfo Petruzziello announced the journalist is not registered with the Order and has never had a professional relationship with them.Police have not yet made any arrests and an investigation into Esposito's death is ongoing.