Serie A sporting judge on Tuesday
told Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) prosecutors to investigate
anti-Semitic chants by Lazio fans during Sunday's derby match
against AS Roma.
As a result, FIGC prosecutors will obtain video and audio
evidence recorded by Rome police for the investigation, sources
said.
In the chant, the fans insulted Roma supporters by saying that
they "pray in the Synagogue"
Photos published in the media also showed a fan wearing a Lazio
shirt with the name Hitlerson above the number 88, a number
referring to letters "HH" for "Heil Hitler".
The Rome club released a statement condemning the anti-Semitism,
saying it was working with the authorities to "avoid, isolate
and combat these phenomenon".
Lazio, like many Italian teams, has a significant number of
far-right supporters among its fans.
They have been behind a series of shameful acts of racism and
anti-Semitism in the past and have given the club a bad name.
In January the soccer authorities closed the Curva Nord section
of Rome's Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio's hardcore 'ultra' fans
stand, for one match over racist abuse directed at Lecce players
Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda during an away game.
The derby anti-Semitism was also condemned by Lazio e Libertà, a
group of the club's fans who are trying to combat the stereotype
that depicts all the team's supporters as neo-fascists.
"We express our profound disapproval of those who use our
colours to re-evoke the monster of Naziism or the abomination of
anti-Semitism, dressing it up as misunderstood jest," the group
said via Facebook.
"Lazio is not black, it is sky blue".
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