The Italian government throws the jersey with the 88 in the wastebasket… The Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piandendozzi met today Tuesday the representatives of the country’s football teams. The discussion made direct reference to the modification of the “moral code” of Italy’s groups, with special reference to issues of racism and the fight against extreme, anti-democratic ideologies.

As the Italian Minister of the Interior announced, from now on “there will be no soccer jerseys with the number 88”. This is not a random number because, as the press explains, it refers to neo-Nazi symbolism: the eighth letter of the German alphabet refers to the salute of Adolf Hitler (88 – HH – Heil Hitler – Haire Hitler).

At the same time, the Italian government’s agreement with the country’s football teams stipulates that their fans should not use symbols linked to the dark, Nazi past, nor use expressions that promote any kind of discrimination. The teams, finally, will have to determine the exact way with which the various matches will be interrupted in case of racist attacks.