Mussolini signs for Lazio

[Zapp Brannigan]

19yr old right back signs for Lazio, put in their youth setup and the club have high hopes for his future.

Sounds pretty normal so far. Except, he's the great-grandson of Benito, his middle name is also Benito, he'll be wearing the name Mussolini on the back of his shirt, and as Paolo Di Canio can testify, his new club's fanbase contains more than its fair share of fascists.

Any player deserves a career on their own merits and he can't be punished for the sins of his ancestry, but Lazio are going to have a tough time on this - especially if he ever makes the first team. It would be nice to think the club are aware enough of the potential for trouble that they use it as a positive stepping stone to weeding out the fascist links of the past and their present ultras, but far more likely is that they'll revel in it.

Looking for positives - I suppose at least he'll get to training to run on time.

 

[Pickman's model]

19yr old right back signs for Lazio, put in their youth setup and the club have high hopes for his future.

Sounds pretty normal so far. Except, he's the great-grandson of Benito, his middle name is also Benito, he'll be wearing the name Mussolini on the back of his shirt, and as Paolo Di Canio can testify, his new club's fanbase contains more than its fair share of fascists.

Any player deserves a career on their own merits and he can't be punished for the sins of his ancestry, but Lazio are going to have a tough time on this - especially if he ever makes the first team. It would be nice to think the club are aware enough of the potential for trouble that they use it as a positive stepping stone to weeding out the fascist links of the past and their present ultras, but far more likely is that they'll revel in it.

Looking for positives - I suppose at least he'll get to training to run on time.

So what are this player's politics?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Something, something goal hanging/petrol stations...



Hitler's living heirs each independently chose not to breed, to kill his line dead. I believe what is left of them live near New York.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

So what are this player's politics?

His mum says that both she and he are apolitical, no interest. Won't stop his name from being a rallying call for the same people who cheered Di Canio giving the Roman salute though.

 

[Pickman's model]

His mum says that both she and he are apolitical, no interest. Won't stop his name from being a rallying call for the same people who cheered Di Canio giving the Roman salute though.

and his pa?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

His mum says that both she and he are apolitical, no interest. Won't stop his name from being a rallying call for the same people who cheered Di Canio giving the Roman salute though.

Italy has a system for changing your name(s). If they weren't raging fash they would have changed it long ago.

 

[dessiato]

Something, something goal hanging/petrol stations...



Hitler's living heirs each independently chose not to breed, to kill his line dead. I believe what is left of them live near New York.

Apologies for the derail Hitler’s Nephew; The One Who Fought For The Allies

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

and his pa?

Dunno, he wasn't interviewed.

Great-grandson of fascist dictator Mussolini joins Lazio's under-19 team

Romano Floriani Mussolini, the great-grandson of Italy’s fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, has officially joined Lazio’s under-19 team

www.theguardian.com

 

[Pickman's model]

Italy has a system for changing your name(s). If they weren't raging fash they would have changed it long ago.

Yeh that's my suspicion of what apolitical means in these circumstances

Maybe he'll be shit and the name Mussolini will be as welcome at Lazio as taiba is at auld Trafford

 

[hitmouse]

I wonder if they're playing Celtic again any time soon?

 

[emanymton]

His mum says that both she and he are apolitical, no interest. Won't stop his name from being a rallying call for the same people who cheered Di Canio giving the Roman salute though.

But she gave him the middle name Benito?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

But she gave him the middle name Benito?

My mum only ever used my middle name when telling me off, wonder if it's the same in this family?

"Romano Floriani Benito Mussolini, will you please tidy your room?"

 

[chilango]

Think of the shirt sales though €€€

 

[Spymaster]

Think of the shirt sales though €€€

If he makes the first team. They can't have that on the backs of their shirts, ffs.

He'll go out as FLORIANI, or at a push BENITO, surely?

Bayern need to sign a striker called Hitler and play Lazio.

 

[Pickman's model]

If he makes the first team. They can't have that on the backs of their shirts, ffs.

He'll go out as FLORIANI, or at a push BENITO, surely?

A cold calculation will be made on the basis of how many shirts can be sold

 

[Spymaster]

A cold calculation will be made on the basis of how many shirts can be sold

They'll sell fucking thousands on novelty value alone, even if the player's shit.

I'd buy one for the lolz.

 

[Pickman's model]

They'll sell fucking thousands on novelty value alone, even if the player's shit.

I'd buy one for the lolz.

More chance of Mussolini on the back as fans pay by the letter

 

[Spymaster]

... fans pay by the letter

I assume yours says LENO then.

Or maybe just L?

 

[butchersapron]

If he makes the first team. They can't have that on the backs of their shirts, ffs.

He'll go out as FLORIANI, or at a push BENITO, surely?

Bayern need to sign a striker called Hitler and play Lazio.

Flip, do you call man utd united too?

 

[Pickman's model]

I assume yours says LENO then.

Or maybe just L?

H ROBERTS

 

[butchersapron]

I'm going to re-read both the PDC and suurez threads now, as i have a spare half hour.

 

[JTG]

19yr old right back signs for Lazio, put in their youth setup and the club have high hopes for his future.

Sounds pretty normal so far. Except, he's the great-grandson of Benito, his middle name is also Benito, he'll be wearing the name Mussolini on the back of his shirt, and as Paolo Di Canio can testify, his new club's fanbase contains more than its fair share of fascists.

Any player deserves a career on their own merits and he can't be punished for the sins of his ancestry, but Lazio are going to have a tough time on this - especially if he ever makes the first team. It would be nice to think the club are aware enough of the potential for trouble that they use it as a positive stepping stone to weeding out the fascist links of the past and their present ultras, but far more likely is that they'll revel in it.

Looking for positives - I suppose at least he'll get to training to run on time.

I'm a bit confused as to why you think Lazio want to weed out fascists from their club. Fascism is absolutely intrinsic to Lazio and given it's not exactly getting less fashionable I'm not sure why they'll see having a Mussolini in the squad as a problem, nor want to 'weed out' a huge portion of their fanbase

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'm a bit confused as to why you think Lazio want to weed out fascists from their club. Fascism is absolutely intrinsic to Lazio and given it's not exactly getting less fashionable I'm not sure why they'll see having a Mussolini in the squad as a problem, nor want to 'weed out' a huge portion of their fanbase

Precisely my point JTG. I want Lazio (and every other club) to weed out their fascists, they don't and won't.

 

[JTG]

Fair enough

 

[tim]

Something, something goal hanging/petrol stations...



Hitler's living heirs each independently chose not to breed, to kill his line dead. I believe what is left of them live near New York.

That would be the Scouse Hitlers. They got the hump with Uncle Adolf after he blitzed their house in Liverpool 8

 

[Teaboy]

I reckon that if you have such an infamous ancestor and surname you're best off making a big deal of disowning it otherwise you're in danger of being seen as a supporter of what they stood for. I remember listening to a lengthy interview with Max Mosley about his life and whilst he skilfully and adeptly answered questions on his parents I still came away with the distinct impression that he was sympathetic to their views.

So until otherwise proven I'm going to assume Mussolini III is rabid fash and hope he's get's kicked all round the park every time he dares enter a pitch.

Apologies for the derail Hitler’s Nephew; The One Who Fought For The Allies

Whilst we're on this derail... This is pretty fascinating. Actually the whole channel is.

 

[hitmouse]

That would be the Scouse Hitlers.

The first EP was amazing, I don't think any of their later stuff really lived up to it though.

 

[tim]

The first EP was amazing, I don't think any of their later stuff really lived up to it though.

Their mistake was the belief that they could only make it big by going to the US, abandoning their burgeoning British fan base.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I reckon that if you have such an infamous ancestor and surname you're best off making a big deal of disowning it otherwise you're in danger of being seen as a supporter of what they stood for.

Yeah, Sadiq Khan's a wrong'un and no mistake.

 

[Teaboy]

Yeah, Sadiq Khan's a wrong'un and no mistake.

Somewhat different.