I've been living in Rome for the past few years and I've seen Lazio ultras flirting with Irish Republicanism. There have been articles about Ireland in fanzines and you also see a lot of Lazio fans in Irish pubs. Lazio are Mussolini's team and have a hardcore of fascist supporters - remember Di Canio's salute last year.
However if I was looking for fascists for a bit of aggro, I wouldn't pick the Italians. They're more likely to fight among themselves and then run off for an ice-cream when the fighting starts

LOL!

Maybe they came over to serenade Gerry Adams...

# Just one Beretta, give it to me/ It should be home, in Italy... #

* I've been living in Rome for the past few years and I've seen Lazio ultras flirting with Irish Republicanism. There have been articles about Ireland in fanzines and you also see a lot of Lazio fans in Irish pubs. Lazio are Mussolini's team and have a hardcore of fascist supporters - remember Di Canio's salute last year.
However if I was looking for fascists for a bit of aggro, I wouldn't pick the Italians. They're more likely to fight among themselves and then run off for an ice-cream when the fighting starts
Posted by: Diogenes at September 30, 2005 04:32 PM *

I find that hard to believe as Republicism from France is supposed to the be based on “Liberty, Egality, Fraternity” and I’d have to guess that the right wing Italians should know this and tend away from those that would try to invoke these liberal ideals. Additionally, Irish Republicism has often been linked with Socialism and Communisim which wouldn’t be ignored by the black shirts. (Note: I’m not suggesting that any faschist might have the intelligence for rational thinking or cognitive linking of beliefs)

Are you sure that you mightn’t have put two and two together and got twenty two? Could the faschists have been thirsty and figured they go to an Irish pub in the same way that Irish faschists might feel peckish and got some nosh in, say a pizza shop?

There might be a danger that Irish Republicanism is being matched with any and all disreputable grouping but I’d have thought that if one was to make such a connection one might post a Lazio fanzine link in support. I’m full sure that Grizzly and co wouldn’t want such a link established and so it’ll be interesting to see what new brush we could paint the RM. It’ll be a change from the UU’s, Dups & McDowell’s old chestnut that the Irish RM is commie.

Did you know that the Der Italian Fuhrer, Paolo played for Glasgow Celtic – you could start from there !!

Niall

A commie Irish RM? Read Flash's piece in 'Decommissioning...'

Niall
I don't really know why the Lazio ultras have taken a shine to the Provos. I remember thinking it strange when I saw a poster for the National Alliance in remembrance of Bobby Sands. Their usual faves are Serbian nationalists like Arkan and Milosevic. I reckon they went to the Irish pub, had a few pints of the black stuff and thought it'd be cool to get into something about Ireland.
Or maybe it's because Di Canio played for Celtic.
Gattuso played for Rangers does that mean that Milan ultras are loyalists?

Diogenes,
I mentioned Paolo / Celtic in mild sarcasm / irony as I don’t believe that you made a true connection between the Irish RM and fascists. In the same way you have jumped to the conclusion that Rangers and loyalist are one and the same. Wasn’t the Protestant teen killed by his own fireworks (therefore loyalist) in North Belfast about a year ago a Celtic fan – sad NI irony.

Stu,
I read the article you mentioned and I don’t see the point you might be trying to make. The article seemed like the usual party political broadcast by the RM. I don’t think that it’s commie in the traditional mode like Lenin, Marx Castro etc. Indeed, I’d say that most parties would like to have such an enthusiastic commentator proselytizing for a greater network of cumman etc. Where did the article originate?

Wasn’t the Protestant teen killed by his own fireworks (therefore loyalist) in North Belfast about a year ago a Celtic fan – sad NI irony.

Errrmmm... no.

It's not unknown for loyalist rioters (or, apparently, the odd drug dealer, like Johnny Adair's son) to don a Celtic shirt in order to give themselves a bit of protection when operating 'behind enemy lines'.

* It's not unknown for loyalist rioters (or, apparently, the odd drug dealer, like Johnny Adair's son) to don a Celtic shirt in order to give themselves a bit of protection when operating 'behind enemy lines'.
Posted by: Gonzo at September 30, 2005 07:32 PM *

Errrmmm... yes.

I’m aware of the strategy of wearing a Celtic shirt.. 'behind enemy lines' but the young man in question was in fact a Celtic supporter. The 16-year-old Glen Branagh was a member of the Ulster Young Militants - the UDA's youth wing - who died in November 2001 when a pipe bomb he was about to throw exploded in his hand as per the Guardian (not a paper known for peddling fiction)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,596956,00.html

I was aware of who you were referring to.

Italian fascists are notorious for their Dandyism and are like most people in the Berlusconi era, clueless, I doubt they even know what a petrol bomb looks like. I would think the fascist would be more likely to support the loyalist extremist just like their mates in the National Front. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Football clubs sometimes carry these people who are too drunk to know what is going on, but run to the first over turned vehicle they see.

Diogenes..
I didnt know SF had links with old Arkan and his extremist groups. THe Belgrade football club supporters were filled with extremist Serbian Nationalists who later became part of Arkan's Tigers, notorious criminals during the war in Bosnia/Hercegovinia. Any proof (links?) that SF was sympathetic to this thankfully deceased war criminal and his monstrous cause? just asking..

*I was aware of who you were referring to.

Posted by: Gonzo at September 30, 2005 08:27 PM*

then check your postings as it sure didn't come accross that way !

Mario
I agree with you about Italian fascists being clueless. Not so sure about dandyism though. I was linking Lazio to Arkan and the serbs (ex Lazio defender Sinisa Mijhalovic gave the funeral speech) not SF.

My apologies Diogenes, I misread.

The dandyism though, I must say, I will stand by what I saw of them in Umbria and a little run in I had with them in Perugia.

Rome is a great city, you are truly lucky to be living there.

Gonzo

"I was aware of who you were referring to."

Really? 'Cause it sure looks like you hadn't a clue. Glen Branagh, or Spacer to his friends, was buried with a Celtic jersey draped over his coffin. The implication of what you were saying is that he was buried with a Celtic jersey as an elaborate ruse to confuse the fenians.

Either that or you actually did not know who the hell was being referred to after all.

it is very sad, as an italian, to see those few ignorant fascist scums supporting celtic or ireland, they have no clue of the socialist irish background the marxist/leninist inside the oira and the inla, it pisses me off big time like, poor lads hope they can get the help they obviously need and a proper kick in the nuts with couple of hrs of irish history would be a good start...
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ITALIA ANTIFASCISTA SEMPRE!

diogenes ma dove vivi a roma e non me di che vai al finnegan?

Niall,

If Gerry really wants to avoid linking up with Italians fascists, then why do Sinn Fein use the Italian flag instead of the Irish one? :-)

In the spirit of Italian politics
may I merely say: forza toro! juve merda!