THIS is the shocking moment football fans performed a vile fascist salute to celebrate a goal scored by the grandson of evil dictator Benito Mussolini.
Romano Floriani Mussolini, the son of politician Alessandra Mussolini, netted the winner as Juve Stabia beat visiting Cesena 1-0 in Italy’s Serie B.
The stadium announcer shouted the player’s first name, and the home crowd responded each time with loud chants of his surname, raising their right arms in celebration.
Italian media reported that the supporters had used the stiff-armed fascist salute used by followers of Mussolini.
Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano wrote: “Probably nobody expected to ever witness this in an Italian stadium.
“This is not some dystopic future and was not generated by AI, it’s real and has been seen around the world.
“Luckily, he is a full-back at least he won’t score too often.”
It then sarcastically added: “Another splendid advert for our football.”
Romano, 21, has previously spoken about his family ties.
He told: “La Gazzetta dello Sport: “My great-grandfather, Benito, was a very important person for Italy but we are in 2024 and the world has changed.”
Juve Stabia have appeared to deny the act was an act of fascism, saying in a statement: “We do not accept exploitation for a golden boy like Romano Floriani Mussolini and the same thing goes for our fans who have cheered as they have always done in the past with any other athlete.”
Benito Mussolini was an Italian politician who founded and led the National Fascist Party and was the country’s Prime Minister from 1922 until his deposition in 1943 and he was executed two years later during the civil war.
As dictator of Italy and the founder of the fascist movement, Mussolini inspired other totalitarian rulers such as Francisco Franco and Adolf Hitler.
Born on July 29, 1883, Benito Mussolini was the leader of the country’s National Fascist Party.
Known as “Il Duce” (The Leader), he became Prime Minister in 1922, rapidly consolidated his power to become a dictator in 1925 and ruled until 1943.
Following the Abyssinia Crisis in 1935-36, he invaded Ethiopia which was widely condemned by the Western Powers but he got the backing of Germany’s leader Adolf Hitler.
Hitler and Mussolini formed what was called the Rome-Berlin Axis and signed a treaty of cooperation.
On June 10, 1940 Italy joined the Second World War, on the side of Germany and passed race laws under which thousands of Jews were persecuted.
In October that year, Mussolini sent Italian forces into Greece although it was unsuccessful and the counter-offensive pushed the forces back to Albania.
Italy also suffered a humiliating defeat when it joined with Germany in launching an attack on the Soviet Union.
Mussolini also suffered a defeat when the Axis Powers were crushed in North Africa.
In July 1942 the Grand Council of Fascism passed a motion of no confidence in Mussolini and on July 25 the king dismissed him as head of the government.
He was held in custody until he was rescued by German troops.
By the time Allied bombings hit Rome in July 1943, the dictator was under Nazi protection and leading a puppet state in northern Italy.
Mussolini then tried to flee the country with his mistress Clara Petacci to Switzerland but both were captured by communist partisans and executed by firing squad.
His body was then taken to Milan and was hung upside down at a petrol station to publicly confirm his death.
