Italy’s football federation promises to do more to fight anti-Semitism. One step: The shirt number 88 will be banned.
In the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the association’s leadership signed a declaration of intent to fight anti-Semitism in football. A passage is anchored in the code of ethics that the number 88 may no longer be worn.
88 is far-right code
The 88 is also a right-wing extremist code: twice the eighth letter in the alphabet (H) is synonymous with the forbidden Hitler salute in the right-wing extremist scene, since “Heil Hitler” begins twice with the eighth letter of the alphabet. Code 88 is the most well-known code of the right-wing extremist scene and is used worldwide.
In the past, for example, the Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon wore the 88 for a short time at AC Parma in the 2000/2001 season. He changed his jersey number after criticism. In 2013, Marco Borriello from AS Roma also caught the eye with the shirt number, which he also changed.
Bundesliga: 88 is basically not possible
In the Bundesliga it has not been possible to assign the number 88 shirt for a long time. The rules of the game of the German Football League stipulate: “Only the numbers 1 to 49 may be assigned to players, with number 1 reserved for a goalkeeper. Any numbers between 12 and 49 may be chosen for the other goalkeepers.”
At the end of March, a fan wore a jersey with the inscription “Hitlerson” and the number 88 at the Roman football derby between Lazio Roma and AS Roma. A photo of it spread on social media at the time and caused outrage throughout Italy. It later turned out that that fan was German.
Game Interruptions intended for anti-Semitism
The agreement in Italy also stipulates that fans should be banned from wearing and using symbols reminiscent of Nazism and anti-Semitic hatred. Non-discriminatory language should also be used at football events. The document also sets out the conditions under which the immediate suspension of football competitions must be ordered in the event of “anti-Semitic chants, actions and statements”.
“There is still so much to be done in the fight against anti-Semitism, but we want to remove any doubt that there is resistance to the fight against anti-Semitism in the world of sport,” said Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. The declaration of intent was signed in the presence of Sports Minister Andrea Abodi and Football Association President Gabriele Gravina.