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Italian MP objects to 'Nazi salute' footballer

Rosie Scammell
Rosie Scammell - [email protected]
Italian MP objects to 'Nazi salute' footballer
Giorgos Katidis celebrates a goal with a Nazi salute. Photo: STR/AFP

The signing by an Italian football club of a Greek player, who in March appeared to give a Nazi salute during a game, is set to be discussed in the country's parliament, after an MP raised objections.

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Fabio Lavagno, an MP from Italy’s Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) party, today filed an urgent question in parliament challenging the signing of 20-year-old Giorgos Katidis by Serie B team Novara in north-west Italy.

Katidis was banned from playing in the Greek squad after he celebrated a goal with a Nazi salute in March.

The player denied understanding the meaning of the gesture, a line echoed by Novara’s executive vice president, Massimo de Salvo.

“We have seen a guy foolishly unaware of the gesture he made, but now he perfectly understands the significance and the tragedy it represents,” de Salvo said in a statement yesterday.

Lavagno criticised the club for attempting to minimise the controversy surrounding the signing. 

“I hope that the league and the FIGC [Italian Football Federation] intervene in this case to prevent any form of tolerance of unjustifiable behaviour,” he said on his blog.

“For some time now we have talked about football not only as a prestigious sport but also for the episodes of racism and vindication of fascism. This is no longer tolerable,” said Lavagno, announcing that he had presented an urgent question to the Minister for Sports Josefa Idem and the Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano.

An Italian former football player caused similar controversy last year when he arrived in the UK to manage Premier League club Sunderland.

Paolo di Canio made the same gesture on the pitch when playing for Rome team Lazio. Sunderland defended its decision although former UK Foreign Minister David Miliband resigned from the club’s board in protest.

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