Italy will ban the use of the number 88 on shirts because it is a Nazi symbolism

Italian soccer made the drastic decision to ban the use of the number 88 because it is a Nazi symbolism. The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi and the Minister of Sports, andrea abodiThey confirmed that the resolution will take place starting next season.

In seeking to fight antisemitism, piantedosi and abodiWith Giuseppe PecoraroThe National Coordinator for the fight against anti-Semitism agreed, among other 13 regulations, to prohibit the number 88, a number that has been seen repeatedly in Italian football.

Why is this number banned? The number 88 is used with anti-Semitic intentions to refer to adolf hitler, because the two 8’s are used with reference to the position of the letter H in the dictionary. This way, 88 refers to HH, initials of the expression ‘Heil Hitler’.

Like the protagonists, the intention of the authorities is to prohibit the use of shirts with that number to fans who attend matches of the A series. In turn, fans are prohibited from making any kind of anti-Semitic gesture. In the event that these are carried out, the interruption of the match is arranged.

A symbol with history in Italian football

Italian football is known for its numerous episodes of racism and anti-Semitism in stadiums, with two factions that stand out above the others in this respect: those of straight and the Hellas Verona.

In the last Roman classic, the ultras of the straight They gave proof of this in which a fan of the Roman team could be seen wearing a shirt with the number 88 and the name “Hitlerson”.

Another very recorded episode in the straight featured the footballer paolo di caniowho celebrated his goals with a fascist salute during his time at the club in the late 1980s and early 2000s. The former striker even has a tattoo of benito mussolini.

At the same time, Gianlugui BuffonWorld champion goalkeeper with Italy in Germany 2006 also starred in a controversial act with the number in question.

For the 2000/01 season, even as a player of the Parma, jester use the number 88, but before the rain of criticism they decided to change it to number 77. “It was a mistake,” he admitted.