Lazio attack media after Mussolini banner by fans

Rome: Lazio attacked the media’s “simplistic tendency” to blame all the club’s fans for neo-fascist incidents, after a pro-Mussolini banner was displayed before repeated racist chants were reportedly heard during Wednesday’s Coppa Italia game against AC Milan.

Their faces masked by a long banner reading “Honour to Benito Mussolini”, the group sang fascist songs and performed the Nazi salute near the city’s Piazza Loreto, where the defeated dictator’s body was strung up in 1945, the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported.

A short video circulating on social media showed the group holding up the banner, signed ‘IRR’ in a reference to the Irriducibili — Lazio’s hardcore ‘ultra’ supporters who have a long history of hard-right politics.

Lazio’s 1-0 win was then overshadowed by the racist abuse of Milan players Tiemoue Bakayoko and Franck Kessie.

“SS Lazio clearly distance ourselves from behaviour and demonstrations that do not in any way correspond to the values of sport that this club has promoted and supported for 119 years,” the club said in a statement.

“Lazio also reject and contest the simplistic tendency of the media to consider the entire Lazio fanbase responsible for the actions of a few isolated elements, for motivation that has nothing to do with passion for sport. “The club has always fought for the respect of law and fairness in behaviour.”

Authorities reportedly identified 22 people responsible for the Mussolini banner. The Serie A clash between Milan and Lazio at the San Siro earlier this month finished with Milan 1-0 winners and scuffles on the pitch after the home players held up the shirt of Lazio player Francesco Acerbi to their own fans like a trophy.

Milan midfielders Bakayoko and Kessie were fined a total of 86,000 euros ($97,000) for the incident.

Meanwhile, a video of racist chants directed at Frenchman Bakayoko by a group of Lazio fans before the game also circulated on social media.