Italy Ban No. 88 Football Shirts

Jun 27, 2023

by Chris

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Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has announced that the government will prohibit football players from wearing the number 88 jersey due to its association with neo-Nazi symbolism. The number 88 is used by extremist groups to represent the Heil Hitler salute, as the letter "H" is the eighth letter of the alphabet.

In March 2023, a Lazio fan from Germany was seen wearing a jersey bearing the name "Hitlerson" and the number "88". This incident contributed to the decision to implement a ban on the use of the number 88.

Italian Government Bans Number 88 Jersey in Football Due to Neo-Nazi Symbolism

As a result of this ban, four Serie A players will be affected, including Toma Basic from Lazio and Mateusz Praszelik from Verona, both of whom are from Croatia and Poland, respectively. Ario Pasalic from Atalanta is another player currently wearing the number 88. Tomas Rincon from Sampdoria already switched to the number 8 for the 22-23 season.

Serie A Players from Lazio and Verona affected by the Decision

The decision was made as part of a broader declaration of intent to combat anti-Semitism, signed at the Viminale with the world of soccer. The code of ethics for football clubs will also incorporate the international definition of anti-Semitism, prohibiting the use of symbols associated with Nazism by fans and emphasizing non-discriminatory language in public events. Proactive measures by clubs in addressing discrimination will be positively evaluated.

This move by the Italian government aims to foster inclusivity and combat hate symbols within the sport, aligning with international efforts to promote tolerance and respect.

During his time playing for Parma, Buffon caused controversy when he chose the number 88 for his shirt, which some believed referenced HH or Heil Hitler. Prior to this, he had worn a shirt with the slogan "Boia chi molla", a phrase favored by fascists during Mussolini's reign. Buffon is now wearing the number 1 kit, while he switched to the number 77 previously.