There are often chances in life. And sometimes not. Romano Floriani Mussolini, the great-grandson of the Italian dictator, was summoned this Sunday with the first team of Lazio de Rome, club from the Italian capital, for the meeting with the opponent Hellas Verona. Even if the 18-year-old ensures that he is not interested in politics, it is difficult not to draw a parallel between him, the “Duce” and this club marked on the far right.
Romano Floriani Mussolini, who signed his first professional contract with Lazio in March, is the son of Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of Benito Mussolini (1883-1945). She was a member of Parliament in Italy and in the European Parliament between 1992 and 2019, navigating in particular between the political groups of Silvio Berlusconi and Bruno Gollnisch. Alessandra is the half-sister of Rachele Mussolini, who recently scored well in Rome in the Italian municipal elections, for the far-right Fratelli d’Italia party.
The young footballer, whom his club presents under the name of “Floriani M.” according to the team composition on Twitter, should not be too out of place when playing at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Celtic crosses, monkey cries, fascist salutes, banners on Auschwitz and even hijacked photos of Anne Frank, in October 2017: the Lazio Rome ultras, classified on the far right, are regularly pinned for racist or anti-Semitic acts.
A new controversy has also touched the Roman club this week, with the broadcast of a video shot at the Lazio stadium and showing a man with an eagle of impressive size perched on his arm (the bird symbol of Lazio) make the fascist salute turned to the supporters, who shout in return “Duce!” Duce! ”
Not to mention the outstretched hands of Italian player Paolo Di Canio in front of the stands, on several occasions, during matches under the colors of Lazio between 2004 and 2006. Gestures that at the time were defended in particular by… Alessandra Mussolini, mother of Romano Floriani, who then stated: “How pleased me is this Roman greeting! “
The supporters of Hellas Verona, which faces Lazio this Sunday, were in particular implicated when monkey cries targeted Italian international striker Mario Balotelli at the end of 2019. Sure that many arms will shake in the stands if little Mussolini comes into play, and not just to applaud.
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