Lazio ultras proudly tell Hysaj: ‘Lazio is fascist'

[SilvioBerlusconi]

Lazio ultras called new signing Elseid Hysaj ‘a worm’ after he sang an anti-fascism anthem, proudly declaring that their club ‘is fascist.’

The row shows no signs of calming down, despite the footage being removed from social media and the club releasing a statement urging everyone to stop politicising their players.

Albania international Hysaj joined in the traditional ritual for a new signing of standing up at dinner and singing a song in front of his teammates.

He chose to sing ‘Bella Ciao,’ which he probably knew for its use in Netflix show Money Heist (Casa de Papel), but which in Italy is known as the anthem of the partisans who fought Benito Mussolini’s regime in the 1940s.

In recent years, that has become a song associated in general with the left-wing political leanings in Italy.

A banner signed by the Lazio ultras appeared on a bridge in Rome this evening: ‘Hysaj is a worm, Lazio is fascist.’

As if there were any doubts, one of the leaders of the ultras movement – Franco ‘Franchino’ Costantino – outlined the situation to the Adnkronos news agency.

“Historically, our fans have always been to the extreme right, and I say that with pride. Someone singing ‘Bella Ciao’ with a Lazio jersey on is just completely insane.

“Hysaj was wrong, there are no excuses.”

Now there is a slight image & personnel problem for you...

 

[ASCIIDK]

Good for him.

 

[FSM]

Mind when everyone was raging at how terrible those nasty England fans were?

When it comes to bigoted and moronic “supporters”, the Italians (and the Czechs for that matter) really are in a class of their own.

 

[Crouchy]

They’re a scumbag support.

 

[SilvioBerlusconi]

Mind when everyone was raging at how terrible those nasty England fans were?

When it comes to bigoted and moronic “supporters”, the Italians (and the Czechs for that matter) really are in a class of their own.

Certainly more so in Eastern Europe...

Italy much like Britain seems more politically different by region & club... All makes for a healthy debate & discussion I guess

 

[Moz]

Didn't even realise he went there but surely Hysaj should know about the behaviour of the Lazio ultras.

 

[Coda]

I’ve been to a few games in Rome over the years. It probably helps not understanding what’s being sung, but the noise they make is absolutely fantastic.

Italian football is in a difficult position that without these ultras, the match day experience is dead, but they obviously can’t endorse their politics.

 

[Murkle]

Bit of a sideways/backwards move to make was Hysaj not being touted for a big money move to the EPL not long ago.

 

[55 and counting]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

 

[giogaddi]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

It's complicated to say the least. There are loads of groups in their support with different leanings, but their most hard-core fans are known to have left leaning sympathies. I guess you could say they are left compared to Lazio lol.

 

[Leopold]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

Traditionally, yes. Seen as a more working class Club with leans to the left. Not extreme left as Lazio are extreme right though.

No expert, just wee things I’ve read over the years.

The bold Benito was a big Lazio supporter.

 

[giogaddi]

This is good podcast on the Ultras scene in Italy by James Richardson and Co.

Ultras in Italy – part 1

Listen to this episode from Golazzo: The Totally Italian Football Show on Spotify. In the first of a two-part special, we look at the roots of ultra culture, the politics and the power wielded by Italian clubs’ most passionate and outspoken fan groups. Suspending games, stopping signings and...

open.spotify.com

Ultras in Italy – part 2

Listen to this episode from Golazzo: The Totally Italian Football Show on Spotify. Today we look at how Juventus found themselves embroiled in the world of organised crime, the introduction of identity cards and the ultra stance as last defenders of the real values of the sport. RUNNING ORDER: •...

open.spotify.com

 

[Raffles]

Didn't even realise he went there but surely Hysaj should know about the behaviour of the Lazio ultras.

Nothing new with them. I remember Di Canio giving them the salute and bragging about his ‘Duce’ tattoo years ago.

 

[Thornliebank_Bear]

Plastic Fabrizio will be on in a minute to explain why its cool.

 

[NeilFifeLoyal]

Lazio ultras called new signing Elseid Hysaj ‘a worm’ after he sang an anti-fascism anthem, proudly declaring that their club ‘is fascist.’

The row shows no signs of calming down, despite the footage being removed from social media and the club releasing a statement urging everyone to stop politicising their players.

Albania international Hysaj joined in the traditional ritual for a new signing of standing up at dinner and singing a song in front of his teammates.

He chose to sing ‘Bella Ciao,’ which he probably knew for its use in Netflix show Money Heist (Casa de Papel), but which in Italy is known as the anthem of the partisans who fought Benito Mussolini’s regime in the 1940s.

In recent years, that has become a song associated in general with the left-wing political leanings in Italy.

A banner signed by the Lazio ultras appeared on a bridge in Rome this evening: ‘Hysaj is a worm, Lazio is fascist.’

As if there were any doubts, one of the leaders of the ultras movement – Franco ‘Franchino’ Costantino – outlined the situation to the Adnkronos news agency.

“Historically, our fans have always been to the extreme right, and I say that with pride. Someone singing ‘Bella Ciao’ with a Lazio jersey on is just completely insane.

“Hysaj was wrong, there are no excuses.”

Now there is a slight image & personnel problem for you...

Why sign for them then?.

 

[bud_light]

It's complicated to say the least. There are loads of groups in their support with different leanings, but their most hard-core fans are known to have left leaning sympathies. I guess you could say they are left compared to Lazio lol.

Hitler would be considered left leaning compared to Lazio

 

[Tino_Col]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

Roma fans more than have it in them to be racist bastards too. Regardless of whatever ideology they promote of themselves.

 

[Alex Boyce]

Hitler would be considered left leaning compared to Lazio

Is that because he only had one ball? @#@

 

[Discombob]

Didn't even realise he went there but surely Hysaj should know about the behaviour of the Lazio ultras.

You're assuming he knew that the song - which the article says is a theme song on a Netflix show - is regarded as political, and that he endorses the politics that song represents.

Much more likely it's either the only song he knew in Italian or else he liked the tune.

 

[DeeCeeTee]

Mind when everyone was raging at how terrible those nasty England fans were?

When it comes to bigoted and moronic “supporters”, the Italians (and the Czechs for that matter) really are in a class of their own.

I’ve been to a few “Eternal Derby” matches in Bulgaria between CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. Since CSKA are extremely right wing, I decided to go pick the Levski to support.

All games are held inside the “neutral” national stadium. The last game I was at, the guy selling water inside the Levski end of the stadium was wearing a “White Power” hoodie.

Completely different level over there, and a social situation that will probably never be changed.

 

[WEL1872]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

The Roma fans seem to have a love in with the IRAs slimmer of the year.. Murals in the city of him..

 

[giogaddi]

The Roma fans seem to have a love in with the IRAs slimmer of the year.. Murals in the city of him..

Sure there have been UVF banners flown in their end too.

 

[CoopBlue]

Was in the Lazio section (a Lazio 'home' game) for a game v Roma in the 90's. The noise and atmosphere was the best I have ever experienced.

 

[redstarrob]

Traditionally, yes. Seen as a more working class Club with leans to the left. Not extreme left as Lazio are extreme right though.

No expert, just wee things I’ve read over the years.

The bold Benito was a big Lazio supporter.

Traditionally they were

It's complicated to say the least. There are loads of groups in their support with different leanings, but their most hard-core fans are known to have left leaning sympathies. I guess you could say they are left compared to Lazio lol.

 

[redstarrob]

Traditionally they were left wing, but not any more, Roma ultra are right wing now

 

[Battlefield Bear]

You can always rely on FF to throw a curveball. A poster standing up for Mussolini, now there’s a new one.

We're a broad church!

Proof however, that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

 

[NeilFifeLoyal]

Sure there have been UVF banners flown in their end too.

I saw that a few years ago, the UVF political wing the PUP are left wing which surprised me.

 

[Artful Dodger]

Are Roma ultras left wing? Or is the politicised support more a Lazio thing?

They lean more to the left but also have a right wing element.Roma are considered the working class club.Lazio were more a middle class club.

 

[LoyalUlsterMan]

Why sign for them then?.

Precisely.

 

[Virgil Hilts]

I just wish that we could get politics out of football.

Maybe concentrate on getting the sleaze out of the sport, from UEFA / FIFA, agents, national governing bodies to sport washing. Concentrate on shíte that matters, and if supporters / fans want to be political do it through a political party.

ps I do accept that people will get political to counter politicised rivals / political interference

 

[Blastie Bear]

If Rangers got fined for fans throwing paper balls, I can only imagine the hefty fine UEFA will be dishing out to this lot...........................................

 

[legalbeagle]

This is the kind of thing that UEFA really should tackle head on if they want to get stuck into the ugly side of football, but hope Lazio take it on now. The message needs to be absolutely 100% clear, that they will side with the player and if the fans don’t like that, they are welcome to f*** off.

 

[BrotherMoses]

%^*& Lazio. Never forget thousands of their fans Nazi saluting their way through town when they played the scum

 

[Portrushbear]

I met a load of them in a bar in krakow last year

Absolutely bonkers

 

[Gheorghe_Hagi]

%^*& Lazio. Never forget thousands of their fans Nazi saluting their way through town when they played the scum

Hard to tell who was more detestable between those two. On one hand you had hardline roman catholic fascists, and on the other you had Lazio.

 

[Johnny Cash]

I saw that a few years ago, the UVF political wing the PUP are left wing which surprised me.

Think the flag in the Roma end was more to do with the colours tbh.

 

[bigy]

LAZIO FANS PLEAD WITH THURAM

LAZIO FANS PLEAD WITH THURAM

www.skysports.com

I'm sure there's an interview with Thuram (I can't find it) where he says that he wasn't going to sign for Lazio because of their fans treatment of black players, but he agreed to meet with club officials out of courtesy. Instead of club officials they sent the head of their ultras who Thuram said basically told him that if he signed they wouldn't consider him to be black.

 

[bigy]

Found a bit more here:

A defining meeting: The Irriducibili and Lilian Thuram :: Incognito Football

Today, the voice of fans can be heard loud and clear through social media channels or via reaction videos. But, 20 years ago there was no camera lens for them to eye up. Instead, the power of the fans was much more literal, and this was felt most strongly in Italy. Most of the major Italian...

incognito-football.webnode.co.uk

The group claimed the boos that came from the stands were only directed at opposition players. Whilst they're good relationship with a black player in the Lazio academy demonstrated that the group were not as racist as Thuram believed.

In the aftermath, the feelings were that discussions had been good and The Irriducibili were confident that they had convinced, or rather intimidated their transfer target into complying with their wishes.

Four days later, Thuram signed for Juventus.

"No, come on, how could I go and play for Lazio, knowing what they're like. It would be impossible" Thuram stated.

Lazio's president Sergio Cragnotti pulled no punches, as to why Thuram had turned down the move. "Thuram has turned us down because of racism in the stands," he claimed. "A small part of our fan base tarnished Lazio's image around the world."

 

[NeilFifeLoyal]

Think the flag in the Roma end was more to do with the colours tbh.

Every chance you’d think they’d look more into it though.

 

[BillySimpson]

I saw that a few years ago, the UVF political wing the PUP are left wing which surprised me.

Ulster Loyalism has always had a strand of radical left-wing thought. The Northern Ireland Labpur Party had considerable influence in the formation of the UVF. Billy Hutchinson, like his father before hi, as unashamedly socialist.

 

[TN8]

The Roma fans seem to have a love in with the IRAs slimmer of the year.. Murals in the city of him..

Sure there have been UVF banners flown in their end too.

I believe the Italian for James Blaney is Giacomo Blanio.

 

[Robocop1977]

I just wish that we could get politics out of football.

Maybe concentrate on getting the sleaze out of the sport, from UEFA / FIFA, agents, national governing bodies to sport washing. Concentrate on shíte that matters, and if supporters / fans want to be political do it through a political party.

ps I do accept that people will get political to counter politicised rivals / political interference

This ^^^

Football over the world has been hijacked by politics.

 

[bullen an la]

and the pic of di canio giving the fascist salute that was ignored by the scottish media scum

 

[PunkScott]

This ^^^

Football over the world has been hijacked by politics.

Is it a new thing though? or doubled down on because of social media?

 

[rangers for life]

Did Lazio and Roma not have banners celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher ,rust in peace etc?

 

[Jelle1880]

I’ve been to a few “Eternal Derby” matches in Bulgaria between CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. Since CSKA are extremely right wing, I decided to go pick the Levski to support.

All games are held inside the “neutral” national stadium. The last game I was at, the guy selling water inside the Levski end of the stadium was wearing a “White Power” hoodie.

Completely different level over there, and a social situation that will probably never be changed.

That's like saying 'I went to an St Pauli game but they were too left wing so I decided to support Livorno' Levski fans have a big friendship with Lazio fans, for obvious reasons.

 

[Rangerista]

This is good podcast on the Ultras scene in Italy by James Richardson and Co.

Ultras in Italy – part 1

Listen to this episode from Golazzo: The Totally Italian Football Show on Spotify. In the first of a two-part special, we look at the roots of ultra culture, the politics and the power wielded by Italian clubs’ most passionate and outspoken fan groups. Suspending games, stopping signings and...

open.spotify.com

Ultras in Italy – part 2

Listen to this episode from Golazzo: The Totally Italian Football Show on Spotify. Today we look at how Juventus found themselves embroiled in the world of organised crime, the introduction of identity cards and the ultra stance as last defenders of the real values of the sport. RUNNING ORDER: •...

open.spotify.com

That was a really interesting listen, great insight provided, thanks for posting.

 

[Steven D]

I'm a lazio fan. Long term season ticket holder until last year but will purchase again.

I don't particularly agree with a lot of songs, but I've found myself saying the same at our games too.
There are plenty lazio fans who aren't far right or even right leaning, but the ultras are obviously always going to be the most visible/audible.

 

[DeeCeeTee]

That's like saying 'I went to an St Pauli game but they were too left wing so I decided to support Livorno' Levski fans have a big friendship with Lazio fans, for obvious reasons.

Yes, I think I was stuck between a rock and a hard place for finding a team to follow in Bulgaria that didn't have a mad racist element to it! Rather naive of me

 

[TCWNS1872]

I once attended the Olimpico for Lazio v Juve. Was in the Curva Sud very close to the dividing perspex barrier - bonkers. Superb tifo display in the Curva Nord at k.o. was impressive, yet the game, whilst technical, was as dull as dishwater.

Afterwards, Carabinieri everywhere and in action I might add.