This from today's Gazzetta. "The Roman salute of Paolo Di Canio at Livorno in yesterday's game still divides the political world, and embarasses that of football. Before opening an investigation the Federcalcio awaits the Sports Judge and chooses the road of prudence: "It is vital to remain sober to the maximum level"says the FIGC president Franco Carraro, who isn't for now taking a position. "As long as it remains within certain limits, all this isn't a problem. When it is exaggerated, it is all another discussion." The President of the League Galliani is sure: "Politics must stay outside the stadia." The Vice-President of the FIGC echoes him "We will commit a grave error to transform the stadia into theatres for demonstrations of culture which don't belong to football." From his part, the president of Livorno Aldo Spinelli reveals that before the game, the referee had asked the Captains to avoid angering the fans. In the evening Lazio defended strongly Di Canio accusing "The climate of ideological-political war that the Livorno supporters created around the match," confirming the ripudiation of "any form of racism or politicisation either on the pitch or off it." In the political and institutional world, the provocation by Di Canio whips up a sandstorm. The debate arrives in the chamber of the European Parliament. Giusto Catania (Refounded Communist Party) highlights the episode at Livorno (and the Zoro case of Messina Inter) pointing the finger at the political authorities who blame immigration for feeding the climate. Strong reprimand also from the Vatican. For Cardinal Angelini, the game at Livorno should have been suspended, the chants "are unedited forms of terrorism" and those who promote them are "real kamikazes". Disagreeing with the Cardinal, the Mayor of Livorno Alessandro says"Not all political symbols are equal." and speaks of "apologies for fascism" on the part of Di Canio. Still from the left, President of the PCDI Armando Cossutta "the gesture was willfully provocative" and "people who provoke can engender very dangerous consequences". Paolo Ferrero (PRC)"It is clear that Di Canio thinks more about appearing on TV than the good of his team, and use the Roman Salute as if he was on a reality show. The Jewish community also intervenes. For the President Amos Luzzatto, the gravest thing, more than the salute, is in the declaration "the player makes people think that the jewish community possesses an occult power which cannot be disobeyed." The President of the Maccabi federation says "And someone let him carry the Olympic torch during its passage around Rome. They gave him an honour he doesn't deserve." On the right instead, they tend to minimise the issue. Even if the Minister of Alleanza Nazionale Gianni Alemanno invited Di Canio to "keep football and politics separate". For Ignazio La Russa, of AN, "everyone salutes how he wants". "Even if he had made a roman salute, it is now planted with these exaggerations." for him the gesture of the player is "nothing dramatic. If it was outlawed in the rules they could punish it, but let's not make a drama." And the provincial secretary of AN Livorno, Marcella Amadio says "I would like to know Di Canio, because in the current conformist situation he has the courage to demonstrate his ideas." Ultimately the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, rather than the salute of Di Canio intervenes over the explosive device thrown by the Livorno supporters. "Yesterday was a sad day for sport and football in particular." http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo...2/dicanio.shtml
