The Jewish community in Rome on Monday denounced anti-Semitic chants sung by supporters of the Lazio during the team’s victory in the classic against Roma (1 to 0), not Sunday.
“An entire sector chanted anti-Semitic chants, a ‘fan’ in the stands wearing a shirt with the name Hitlerson and the number 88 (used by the neo-Nazi movement to designate ‘Heil Hitler’) and we, as usual, were the only ones who were outraged and protested,” wrote Ruth Dureghello, president of the Roman Jewish community.
“How is it possible that everyone continues to act as if nothing is happening?”, added Ruth, in a message with a photo and a video of the reported events.
An entire curve singing anti-Semitic chants, a “fan” in the stands with the Hitlerson shirt and the number 88 and we, as always, the only ones to get indignant and protest. Is it possible that everyone continues to ignore it? pic.twitter.com/AL3EGejYUf
— Ruth Dureghello (@dureghello) March 20, 2023
The allegation comes just 12 days after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced an investigation into alleged anti-Semitic chants sung by Lazio fans during the game against Napoli on March 3.
In January, the northern sector of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where the ‘Biancoceleste’ club’s ultras are based, was closed after racist chants against Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda in the away game against Lecce.
In recent years, Lazio fans have often been accused of racist and anti-Semitic behaviour. In 2017, the club’s fans displayed the image of Anne Frank, the young German Jew who died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, dressed in the Roma shirt.
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi retweeted the message of indignation from the president of the Jewish community in Rome and wrote: “Impossible to pretend that nothing happens. I will do my part, as I feel I must. Respect is a non-negotiable right “.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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