http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41139000/jpg/_41139432_di_canio203_270.jpgDi Canio says the gesture is not intended as a political statement
Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio has defended the raised-arm salute that earned him a one-game ban by saying he is "a fascist but not a racist".
Di Canio will contest a one-match ban for the salute, made against Juventus on Saturday, and he told Ansa news agency: "I am a fascist, not a racist.
"I made the Roman salute because it's a salute from a comrade to his comrades and was meant for my people.
"With this stiff arm I do no want to incite violence or racial hatred."
The former Italy international, who was also find 10,000 Euros, made the gesture after being substituted in the 1-1 draw against Juventus at the Olympic Stadium.
The 37-year-old also made a fascist salute during the Serie A defeat at Livorno on 11 December.
As things stand he will miss Lazio's trip to Lecce on Wednesday.
Di Canio also made a fascist salute at the end of Lazio's 3-1 win over city rivals AS Roma in January.
On that occasion he was fined 10,000 euros and escaped a ban.
The gestures have been attacked by politicians, players, fans and Jewish groups in Italy.
Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body Fifa, said players making fascist salutes should be banned from the game for life.
Even Lazio distanced themselves from Di Canio, saying the club rejected any "politicisation" of football.
Di Canio defended the gesture, saying it was not intended as a political statement and that he would continue to acknowledge his fans in whatever way he chooses.
Paulo DiCanio is an arsehole.
― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Saturday, 24 December 2005 01:40 (twenty years ago)
ESPN.com's version of events also had the fans of Lazio waiving banners with swastikas in the stands while Livorno's fans were pimping red stars. If true, I'd say having the Second World War be re-enacted in the stands is a step above even booing Santa Claus.
― Alan Conceicao (Alan Conceicao), Saturday, 24 December 2005 02:12 (twenty years ago)
I guess in theory you can separate fascism from racism (like saying that you support the fascist idea of the state, for example, but not racial inequality), but in practice they tend to go hand in hand.
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 24 December 2005 09:16 (twenty years ago)
xpost
No, you can't be against apolitical fascism, but when Di Canio is making the gesture to however-many-thousand Lazio irriducibili...
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/lazio_fans050410.jpg
...I'd suggest the context is somewhat different. Lazio fans have loads of previous for this, and the club have tons of previous for trying to ignore it / defend it.
For instance. 'Lazio Chairman Claudio Lotito said his players had been provoked by Livorno fans who are known for their left-wing bias.
"Is it political or not to sing the Red Flag? Is it normal for people to give the closed-fist salute? Is this a football match or a party meeting? Why is no one taking the position that we need to take politics of any kind right out of sport?" Lotito was reported as saying in Rome daily Il Messaggero.'
Meanwhile, the opinion of someone who probably should matter, Lazio midfielder Dabo: "Everyone knows Di Canio’s ideology, seen (sic) as he does nothing to hide it, but I don’t talk to him anymore, and I’m right to do so. He knows what I think of him, and I have to say I’m fed up of playing with someone like him. The worst thing about Di Canio is that he tries to be cool with us, the black players on the team."
― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Saturday, 24 December 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)
"As for the fans, I would be mad to speak about them in that way – they are splendid." - dabo
make of that what you will
― terry lennox. (gareth), Saturday, 24 December 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)
Dabo did say in another part of that interview that it was only a minority of the fans that were, erm, dodgy. He'd be a bit mad to sue Le Soir because he said pretty much the same thing (minus the 'I'm fed up of playing with him' bit) on Italian TV.
― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Saturday, 24 December 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)