«Hitlerson 88», anti-Semitic chants and shirt of the Lazio ultras in the derby: what does it mean- Corriere.it

On Sunday, during the derby won by Lazio 1-0 against Roma, the now “rituals” of anti-Semitic chants revived by the Lazio ultras rose from the Curva Nord (the one that houses the Lazio fans). In the Monte Mario grandstand, however, more happened. At the end of the match, a shocking photograph was taken of a man with a shirt with the inscription «Hitlerson 88» on the back. Where the name is a clear reference to Adolf Hitler, while the number is a neo-Nazi reference. The H, in fact, is the eighth letter of the alphabet and therefore 88 means “HH”, or rather “Heil Hitler”, the Nazi salute.

An entire curve singing anti-Semitic chants, a ?fan? in the stands with the Hitlerson shirt and the number 88 and we, as always, the only ones to be indignant and protest. Is it possible that everyone continues to ignore it? pic.twitter.com/AL3EGejYUf

— Ruth Dureghello (@dureghello) March 20, 2023

Toma Basic has nothing to do with it, midfielder inserted by Maurizio Sarri in the final: the Croatian wears that shirt this season. It is rather the usual re-reading of history that glorifies Nazism and makes fun of the Holocaust, with society having always condemned the chants. The president of the Jewish Community of Rome, Ruth Dureghello, intervened on the matter with a tweet: «An entire curve singing anti-Semitic chants, a “fan” in the stands with the Hitlerson shirt and the number 88 and we, as always, the only ones indignant and protest. Is it possible that everyone continues to pretend nothing has happened?». Abodi immediately replies: «It’s impossible to ignore it. I will do my part, as I feel I have to do. Respect is due and not negotiable!

The case is now in the attention of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office who is working to evaluate whether to take measures that could lead to the closure of the Curva Nord in the next home match against Juventus. The Curva Nord was the protagonist of these episodes already in the first leg derby and it was repeated several times not only at the Olimpico. Anti-Semitic chants were also sung away against Lecce, Sassuolo and with Bologna.