Italian club Lazio have defended new signing Elseid Hysaj amid abuse from the club’s hard-core ultra fans for singing the partisan song “Bella Ciao” during his initiation ceremony.
The Italian folk tune became the anthem of Italian Resistance in the 1940s, and was later adopted worldwide as a song of anti-fascist resistance.
Hysaj’s performance angered the club’s hard-core fans, known as ‘ultras’, who have links to the far right.
The Albania international was targeted by online abuse with a banner hung on a bridge in Rome reading: “Hysaj worm, Lazio is fascist”.
On Tuesday, the Roman club issued a statement to “condemn the shameful banner”.
“We support our athletes and all the players. We will never be on the side of those who deny the values of sport,” it read.
“We clearly distance ourselves from those who want to exploit this event for political purposes, damaging the team, all Lazio fans and the club.”
Thousands of other Lazio fans rallied behind Hysaj, who signed for the Roman club from Napoli on a free transfer, with the #IostoconHysaj (I’m with Hysaj) hashtag.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 3 weeks agoLenovo become FIFA’s World Cup ‘technology partner’
Chinese technology company Lenovo have signed a sponsorship deal with FIFA that covers the...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoVinicius says Spain should lose 2030 World Cup unless racism declines
Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 3 months agoRights groups demand release of jailed Qatar World Cup ex-staffer
Human rights groups on Wednesday called for the release of Abdullah Ibhais, a former...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 4 months agoNew Jersey governor says 2026 World Cup will be ‘incredibly safe’
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Sunday promised the 2026 World Cup will be...
By AFP