The Italian Prime Minister not only defends Di Canio,but defends Facism too..........
The Times December 22, 2005
Berlusconi defends player's Fascist salute
From Richard Owen in Rome
SILVIO BERLUSCONI has defended a Fascist salute given by Paolo Di Canio, the controversial captain of Lazio and former West Ham United player.
The Italian Prime Minister, whose centre-right coalition faces a tough re-election battle in April, also suggested that Fascism was not as bad as Nazism or Communism.
Di Canio, 37, was fined €10,000 (£6,800) this week and banned for one game after making the straight-armed salute to Lazio supporters during a match against Juventus last weekend. His gesture — the third such incident this year — was widely condemned by politicians, players, fans and Jewish groups.
However, Signor Berlusconi said that the player had been misunderstood. “Di Canio is an exhibitionist,” he said. “His salute had no significance — he’s a bravo ragazzo [good lad].”
Jewish groups in Italy have threatened to take Di Canio to court. Fascist symbols are banned by the postwar Italian Constitution. Sepp Blatter, the President of Fifa, the world governing body of football, said that players who make the salute should be banned for life.
Di Canio, who missed Lazio’s match against Lecce yesterday, said that his salute was not political and that he would continue to make it for “my people”. Hardline Lazio fans, known as ultras, espouse far-right views, and Di Canio has the word Dux — an apparent reference to Benito Mussolini, the wartime Duce — tattooed on his arm. Di Canio’s career includes stints with Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and 4½ years with West Ham. He also made the salute in a Lazio match with AS Roma in January and against Livorno last week.
Signor Berlusconi was speaking during a Christmas lunch for foreign correspondents based in Rome. He said that Mussolini’s rule had never amounted to a criminal doctrine. The Fascist era was marred by the “indelible stain” of the race laws that persecuted Italian Jews, but Mussolini had acted less out of conviction than out of a desire to appease Adolf Hitler, his ally.
The Times December 22, 2005
Berlusconi defends player's Fascist salute
From Richard Owen in Rome
SILVIO BERLUSCONI has defended a Fascist salute given by Paolo Di Canio, the controversial captain of Lazio and former West Ham United player.
The Italian Prime Minister, whose centre-right coalition faces a tough re-election battle in April, also suggested that Fascism was not as bad as Nazism or Communism.
Di Canio, 37, was fined €10,000 (£6,800) this week and banned for one game after making the straight-armed salute to Lazio supporters during a match against Juventus last weekend. His gesture — the third such incident this year — was widely condemned by politicians, players, fans and Jewish groups.
However, Signor Berlusconi said that the player had been misunderstood. “Di Canio is an exhibitionist,” he said. “His salute had no significance — he’s a bravo ragazzo [good lad].”
Jewish groups in Italy have threatened to take Di Canio to court. Fascist symbols are banned by the postwar Italian Constitution. Sepp Blatter, the President of Fifa, the world governing body of football, said that players who make the salute should be banned for life.
Di Canio, who missed Lazio’s match against Lecce yesterday, said that his salute was not political and that he would continue to make it for “my people”. Hardline Lazio fans, known as ultras, espouse far-right views, and Di Canio has the word Dux — an apparent reference to Benito Mussolini, the wartime Duce — tattooed on his arm. Di Canio’s career includes stints with Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and 4½ years with West Ham. He also made the salute in a Lazio match with AS Roma in January and against Livorno last week.
Signor Berlusconi was speaking during a Christmas lunch for foreign correspondents based in Rome. He said that Mussolini’s rule had never amounted to a criminal doctrine. The Fascist era was marred by the “indelible stain” of the race laws that persecuted Italian Jews, but Mussolini had acted less out of conviction than out of a desire to appease Adolf Hitler, his ally.
