A Saturday evening in the Curva Nord, in Roma

[T Fearon]

Had heard all about Lazio's fans and was apprehensive about going to the Curva Nord, but I can only go by my experience and that was totally positive. I certainly have felt under far more personal threat and danger and have witnessed far more menacing atmospheres, not to mention so called "facist" fans, at a certain stadium not a million miles from the end of the Belfast M1

[Croí na hÉireann]

I have to say, he looked very frail even then - quite remarkable that he managed to keep going with such a demanding schedule for several years afterwards. (Though it occurs that maybe the present Pope doesn't continue that tradition?)

I think it was a Pope John Paul II thing, rather than a Pope thing. Still, would have been nice if Pope Benedict XIV continued it.

Heading there over New Years, anyone know for definite if this still happens or not???

[ildanach]

Buffon is a well-known fascist.  Wanted the number 18 on his jersey as opposed to the normal number 1 as the 1 (A) and 8 (H) were the initials of his great hero Adolf Hitler.  Surprised Tony went to watch a Lazio game.  They were Mussolini's team, their support is well-known to be fascist, sure didn't that tosser Di Canio famously give them a Nazi salute

I think that salute was an old roman salute before the nazi's hi jacked it. But lazio are facists alright, i think the ultras even have someting to to with the board of the club too. They were on that "the real football factory".

[T Fearon]

Are supporters who abuse their own players because of their religious or club affiliations not also fascist, in practice if not by self admission?

I think that this is a generalisation in terms of Lazio fans, a bit like all Spurs fans are yiddos, all Liverpool fans are on the dole etc

[Chrisowc]

Are supporters who abuse their own players because of their religious or club affiliations not also fascist, in practice if not by self admission?

I think that this is a generalisation in terms of Lazio fans, a bit like all Spurs fans are yiddos, all Liverpool fans are on the dole etc

Didn't take long for those Lazio fans to get through to you Tony

[Evil Genius]

Are supporters who abuse their own players because of their religious or club affiliations not also fascist, in practice if not by self admission?

I think that this is a generalisation in terms of Lazio fans, a bit like all Spurs fans are yiddos, all Liverpool fans are on the dole etc

Thank goodness for the sake of Senor Vizcaino that it never occurred to the Norn Iron fans that he and his Spanish compatriots might all be Fenians...




http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/3596/spanish-fan-applauds-the-green-and-white-army/
SPANISH FAN APPLAUDS THE GREEN AND WHITE ARMY
20/12/2007
'THE Northern Ireland fans are the best football supporters I have ever met in my entire life.'

These are the words of one Spanish fan who was at the Euro 2008 qualifier at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in Las Palmas on November 21.

Jose Vizcaíno emailed the Irish FA to say that our supporters are simply the best!

This is what Jose said:

"I'm sending this email from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where your national squad recently played a qualifying match against Spain.  Unfortunately your boys didn't make it after fighting all the way, but the main reason for this message is to thank your fans... they are the best supporters I've ever seen in my life.

"I was at the stadium and they are the best example of what supporters should be like, cheering non stop, singing their songs, saying goodbye to local supporters, and while they were losing and the Swedish were winning!  The whole island is commenting on that, even the local news mentioned how proud you should be of your supporters.

"After the match.... no problems at all - I stayed after the match drinking with your fans, singing, exchanging flags, shirts, and some good laughs!  And there were no problems with anyone.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Northern Ireland fans for being the way you are!!  You'll always be in our hearts in the Canaries, and next time... your squad has to make it the Finals for your supporters!  Northern Ireland fans don't ever change."

[saffron sam2]

Buffon is a well-known fascist.  Wanted the number 18 on his jersey as opposed to the normal number 1 as the 1 (A) and 8 (H) were the initials of his great hero Adolf Hitler.  Surprised Tony went to watch a Lazio game.  They were Mussolini's team, their support is well-known to be fascist, sure didn't that tosser Di Canio famously give them a Nazi salute

Interestingly, though totally irrelevantly, Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes also insists on the number 18 jersey. Quite often with NI, he is the only member of the starting team not wearing a number between 1 and 11 inclusive. This is because his initials (like Hitler's) correspond to the 1 and 8. It doesn't mean he is a fascist or anything that - just an unfortunate coincidence.

[T Fearon]

Also pleased to see the famous dramatisation of the Windsor Park fascists is returning to the Grand Opera House Belfast in January with Kielty still in the lead role.