Elsed Hysaj didn’t expect this. Arrived at Lazio in July from Naples, the Albanian side suffered criticism from some of his new supporters … even before wearing the tunic biancoceleste. His fault? To have sung the revolutionary song Bella ciao during his hazing. “Hysaj parasitic, Lazio is fascist”, retorted a few tifosi in a banner. Embarrassed, the club tried to extinguish the fire with a press release. Alas, the episode recalled how difficult it was for Lazio to deal with this fringe of supporters.
The controversy surrounding Elseid Hysaj continues to #Lazio, accused by the ultras of having sung “Bella Ciao” during the integration ritual. The club officially defended it, but this evening banner of the ultras in Rome (photo via Gazzetta): “Hysaj parasitic, Lazio is fascist”. pic.twitter.com/xqZuGA6ROL
– GuillaumeMP (@Guillaumemp) July 19, 2021
This image of a very right-wing, even fascist club, has always stuck to Lazio’s skin. Created in 1900, it is the first Roman team. “It is a multisport club, founded by the liberal and industrial Roman upper middle class, very Anglophile”, narrates Fabien Archambault, professor at the Sorbonne and specialist in the history of Italian football.
But if the club, 6th in Serie A last year, has this reputation, it owes it above all to its supporters. On several occasions, these were distinguished by cries of monkeys, anti-Semitic stickers representing Anne Frank and fascist salutes.
Last episode to date? During the Inter reception on Saturday 16 October, an eagle trainer – a symbol of the club – of Lazio was filmed performing fascist salutes, in front of screaming supporters “Duce, Duce …” (nickname of Benito Mussolini). The club communicated in the wake, suspending the person in question. The evil is, definitely, deep.
Nota della Società
https://t.co/Ppfcmd3LsD pic.twitter.com/0T3Jznflng
– SSLazio (@OfficialSSLazio) October 20, 2021
This politicization of the North Curva – a turn occupied by the ultras laziali at the Stadio Olimpico – intervened in the 1970s. “For some, to declare themselves neo-fascists was to be part of a minority”, explains Sébastien Louis, historian and author of the book Ultras – the other protagonists of football, before adding:
“In reality, few supporters are really politicized. But these are important members, who decide on the political colorization of a turn.”
Sébastien Louis, historian and author of the book “Ultras – the other protagonists of football”franceinfo: sport
While the center of the Eternal City leans more towards AS Roma, the supporters of Lazio come more from the periphery. And in particular from the south of Lazio. “We are talking about cities like Latina, built by the power of Mussolini after the draining of the Pontine marshes, explains Fabien Archambault. After the war, there is still a strong fascist anchor. “ In other words, the politicization of the North Curva stems first of all from the geographical origin of its tifosi. And not from an alleged political divide, between Roma and Lazio.
As proof, AS Roma was founded in 1927 … by the fascist power, anxious to create a large structure of the capital by merging several clubs. “But as Lazio were quite powerful, they resisted, recalls researcher Fabien Archambault. So much so that in the 1930s she was considered ‘less fascist’ than Roma! ” And this even though the club biancoceleste was controlled by General Vaccaro, an army officer.
Since then, the situation has changed. If the Curva Sud of Roma is home to all kinds of political movements, the Curva Nord is very clearly marked on the right. Some members claim a fascist heritage, while others identify more with the “new currents” of the extreme right, openly racist. An ideology qualified by Sébastien Louis as “nationalist-revolutionary”, borrowing all the same some symbols marked on the left.
Palestinian flags are thus frequently flown. “They also made a banner when Carlo Giuliani was killed during the G8 protests in Genoa in 2001., recalls the author. An extreme minority claim to be anti-racist, but they cannot flaunt it at the stadium. “ And the author to mobilize the thesis of “punch democracy”, according to which the strongest imposes their ideas on others.
Even today, the leaders are accustomed to the Italian right. Claudio Lotito, president of Lazio, was a candidate in the 2018 national elections on a list Forza Italia, party of Silvio Berlusconi. Above all, Lotito himself slipped in 2019: “The cries of monkeys? They also do this to those with ‘normal skin’ (sic). ” Therefore, the question of a real desire to clean up among its supporters arises.
“When it makes too much noise in the media, as with Anne Frank, Lotito takes a stand, but it’s a bit hypocritical. It’s more a question of image. ”
Sebastien louisfranceinfo: sport
Likewise, sanctions do not really encourage strong decision-making. When racist cries were made against Mario Balotelli in 2019, Lazio was fined … € 20,000.
The tifosi of Lazio benefit from a favorable Italian political context. “Their supporters have always been there, but they couldn’t go as far as they wanted when they were in the minority, explains Fabien Archambault. But for fifteen years, political power has been too weak, and above all wants to spare part of its electorate … ” If last weekend’s municipal elections primarily benefited the left, the far right remains very strong, in the wake of Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni.
This certain impunity is confirmed by Sébastien Louis: “Mussolini’s calendars are easily found in Italy, a march takes place every year in Predappio, where he is buried … There is a real problem of historical memory, so it is not surprising that some sing fascist songs. at the stadium.”, concludes the historian.