What do you expect from a club that worships players like Paolo Di Canio pictured here with his fascist salute?
Bayer Leverkusen players Jonathan Tah, Wendell and Karim Bellarabi were subjected to what sounded like monkey chants during the first leg of their Champions League playoffs against Lazio. Jonas Eriksson, the Swedish referee was forced to make an announcement to implore fans to treat the players decently and threatened to abandon the match if the chants continued. However, UEFA washed their hands (surprise, surprise) saying there was nothing and it was all “a mistake”. So much for their slogan “Say No To Racism.”
What is even more bizarre is the explanation put forth by Lazio’s sporting director, Igli Tare: “The spectators offended no players with racism. The referee has the chants misinterpreted. Our fans screamed “Uuuuuh”. “Buuuuh” is racist, but “Uuuuuh” is when you make an enemy fear you or want to throw him off his stride. But it’s no manner racist”. Lazio coach Stefano Pioli in his interview gave the Lazio fans a pass: “This was not an incidence of racism. But it was a mistake.”
The Lazio tifosi are notorious for their racism and the most violent of the Curva Nord are the Irrudicibili, a neo-fascist group which glories in white supremacy, anti-Semitism, Nazi symbolism, and worship of Arkan, the Serbian warlord and mass murderer. Benito Mussolini aka Il Duce, was a Lazio supporter who gave a 1000 lira to the club. His legacy carried forth by former player Paolo Di Canio, who became a cult hero with his Il Duce straight armed fascist salute. Di Canio is well known to West Ham and Sunderland fans where he toned down his fascist connections but continued to make headlines with his erratic and inflammatory behaviour.
Ironically, a 20 year old Senegalese striker, Keita Baldé Diao; coming off the bench was Lazio’s match winner.