Italy Bans 16 Roma Fans for Fascist Salutes – Some Barred for Five Years

Italian authorities have imposed stadium bans of up to five years on 16 Roma supporters identified after performing fascist salutes during the club’s Serie A match against Atalanta.

Rome police identified the supporters following the September 5 fixture at the Stadio Olimpico, where the gestures were made in the Curva Sud.

The 16 supporters, aged between 19 and 42, have received Daspo orders lasting between one and five years.

The restrictions extend beyond Roma’s home matches.

Those affected can be prohibited from attending football matches across Italy, Roma fixtures played abroad and matches involving the Italian national team.

Four of the supporters have also been ordered to report to police while Roma matches are taking place.

Fascist salutes and Nazi references

Investigators said some of those identified were wearing clothing carrying the phrase “über alles”, which police and Italian media described as a Nazi reference.

Several of the supporters had previously been involved in football disorder or other offences, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

One supporter who had already been subject to a stadium exclusion received a new five-year ban.

The measures were imposed by Rome’s police authorities rather than by Roma itself.

Italy’s sweeping stadium-ban system

Italy’s Daspo system gives authorities extensive powers to restrict people considered responsible for violence, disorder or prohibited conduct connected with sporting events.

Unlike a ban imposed solely by an individual football club, a Daspo can prevent somebody from attending matches across the country.

Restrictions can also cover fixtures outside Italy and national-team games.

In more serious cases, supporters can be required to present themselves at a police station while matches are being played.

The action against the Roma supporters therefore extends considerably beyond removing them from the Curva Sud.

For those receiving the longest orders, conduct during one match has resulted in restrictions on attending football for the next five years.

Sources

• La Gazzetta dello Sport – fascist salutes, Nazi references and stadium bans
• LaPresse – police details on the restrictions