Serie A
The Italian Football Federation has banned the number 88 from players’ jerseys, sending a signal against anti-Semitism
The Italian Football Federation has taken a step in the fight against anti-Semitism and made the immediate decision to ban the number 88 on players’ shirts.
Italian footballers want to take a stand against discrimination and they have succeeded. The reason for the collaboration of Gabriele Gravina (President of the FIGC), Matteo Piandedossi (Minister of the Interior), Andrea Ambodi (Minister of Sport) and Giuseppe Pecoraro (National Coordinator for the fight against anti-Semitism), as reported by Repubblica they all decided to allow the teams to use the Ban No. 88 on shirts.
The reason for this is that this particular number is a symbol for neo-Nazi groups to say “Heil Hitler”, where “h” is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
Her move comes shortly after a Lazio fan was convicted for wearing an Eagles jersey with the number 88 and the word ‘Hitlerson’ on it, prompting the fan in question to be tracked down and fined.
In addition to the ban on the number 88 shirt, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piattedosi also clarified that there is a ban in place “Ban on the use of symbols that could refer to National Socialism”.
Source: sport 24
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