ROME–Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini condemned an incident in which supporters of the Italian football club SS Lazio were caught on video performing fascist salutes and hanging banners glorifying former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
The incident took place just before Liberation Day celebrations on April 25, which mark the end of Italy’s fascist dictatorship in 1945.
“No tolerance for any form of violence, physical or verbal. I thank the police who are following the incident carefully. Football must be an occasion of celebration and communion, not for fighting or confrontation,” Minister Salvini wrote on Twitter.
The World Jewish Congress also voiced deep condemnation. Its CEO, Robert Singer, stated : “It is incomprehensible that in the 21st century there are still those who seek to glorify a fascist regime that was responsible for spreading hate across the continent during the darkest days of World War II and supported the Nazis in their perpetration of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity.”
“Football is known to millions around the world as the ‘beautiful game’ not only because of the skill of its players, but for its unique ability to bring people together over their shared love of sport and club. It is time for players, club officials, and governing bodies to make clear that there is no room for such behavior by supporters both inside and outside of stadiums. We call on the leadership of SS Lazio and Serie A to respond accordingly and to ensure that these fans are punished to the fullest extent,” Singer said.