Italian Football Federation investigates fascist salutes after goal for Mussolini’s great-grandson

The Italian Football Federation on Tuesday (NZ time) opened an investigation after supporters of second-division club Juve Stabia celebrated a goal scored by Benito Mussolini’s great-grandson with fascist salutes.

Defender Romano Floriani Mussolini, 21, scored his first goal for the Serie B team in their 1-0 win at Cesena, with video footage showing fans shouting “Mussolini” with one arm outstretched.

The gesture has historically been associated with fascism and first populated by Benito Mussolini

“The federal prosecutor’s office (of the FIGC) will send a report on the incident... to the sports judge of Serie B for a ruling,” the Italian Football Federation said.

Floriani Mussolini, who came through Lazio’s academy, has played every league game for Juve Stabia this season on loan from the capital club.

Floriani Mussolini had previously acknowledged his family history, but outlined he is not defined by his great-grandfather’s political ideologies.

“My great-grandfather, Benito, was a significant figure in Italy, but we are in 2024 and the world has changed,” he said.

“There will always be some prejudice, but my work has nothing to do with it and it doesn’t bother me. If it ever affected my career, it would be a great disappointment.

“I’m open to challenges: if I have to silence those who hold prejudices about my surname, I will do it. What matters is what I do on the field.”

His mother, Alessandra, a former Italian and European MP, is the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. In 2019, she became entrenched in a war of words with fans of Scottish side Celtic.

On that occasion, Celtic fans unveiled a banner showing Mussolini hanging by his feet, with the wording “follow your leader”. That led to Alessandra calling for laws to punish supporters for such actions.

Celtic were fined just shy of NZ$30,000 by Uefa for the incident.