The man was in Italy to watch Team Slovakia and Team Finland play their opening game at the 2026 Olympics.
MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — It appears an international fugitive’s love of the Olympics has landed him behind bars after years on the run.
Police in Italy arrested a 44-year-old man from Slovakia 16 years after officials issued a warrant for his arrest.
He was in Italy to follow Slovakia’s hockey team to the Olympics, the local Carabinieri police force told Reuters in a statement. Authorities say he was on the Italian police wanted list and was arrested when he checked into a guest house in a Milan suburb.
He was taken to the central San Vittore prison where he will serve 11 months and seven days for a “string of shop thefts he committed in 2010,” Reuters reported.
The man was arrested before Slovakia’s hockey team battled against Finland’s in the Santa Giulia Arena for their opening game at the 2026 Winter Games.
Slovakia ended up winning their opening game against Finland 4-1. The team next plays on the global stage Thursday at 6:10 a.m. ET against home team Italy, then against Sweden on Saturday at 6:10 a.m. ET.
This is the first time in 12 years NHL players are back on the ice and Team Slovakia has seven members from various professional teams representing their home country.
After three preliminary rounds, the 2026 Olympics will host a playoff round, a quarterfinal, a semifinal, the bronze medal game and finally the gold medal game which will decide both gold and silver winners Sunday, Feb. 22. Find a full schedule for all of the Olympic events here.