Italy: After a goal by the great-grandson of Italian dictator Mussolini, supporters cheer him and make a fascist salute

A barely believable image. This Sunday, December 22, Juve Stabia won against Cesena (1-0) thanks to a goal scored in the 21^e minute. The scorer? Benito Mussolini's grandson, Romano Floriani Mussolini.

This goal led to a lunar scene: while the announcer shouts the scorer's first name several times to let the public celebrate, many supporters in the stands chanted “Mussolini!”, accompanied by fascist salutes.

“My great-grandfather was a very important person”

Fascist salute or simple Roman salute? Difficult to say: the two signs differ in thumb hold and arm height. Especially since on the videos, several supporters make the gesture with the wrong hand or with both hands.

Regardless, in January 2024, the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation ruled, declaring that the Roman salute constituted an offense of advocating fascism. These are gestures “evocative of the gestures specific to the dissolved fascist party”, she pleaded.

For his part, the 21-year-old defender, who played for Lazio, has always defended himself by saying he is not interested in politics. However, when it comes to his great-grandfather, the player has shown himself on several occasions: “He was a very important figure for Italy, but we are in 2024 and the world has changed. There will always be some prejudices, but my work has nothing to do with it and it does not weigh on me”he assured in an interview given to the Journal.