Amelia accuses ‘stupid’ Di Canio Monday 12 December, 2005
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Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia has criticised Paolo Di Canio for his "stupid gesture" during yesterday’s turbulent clash with Lazio.
In direct contrast to Lazio’s right-wing supporter-base, the Tuscan side have a notorious communist following, who launched a firework at the visitors’ team bus when it arrived at the Stadio Picchi before the game.
This incident precipitated a pre-match skirmish between Lazio fans and police at the entrance to the ground which resulted in one policeman being injured, but the forces of order appeared to have the situation under control during the game which Livorno won 2-1.
However, Di Canio decided to inflame matters further upon being substituted on the hour by raising his right arm in a Roma style salute – a fascist gesture which infuriated the home crowd.
The Livorno ultras began singing anti-Fascist song "Piazza Loreto" – a reference to the square in Milan where deposed dictator Benito Mussolini and his henchmen were strung up after being captured and killed by the Partisans in 1945 – and became clearly agitated by the Lazio captain, who was fined for the same gesture in the Rome derby last season.
"It was a stupid gesture," said Amelia afterwards. "It’s not the fist time he’s done it either. There are rules in place for this sort of thing and I think the FA needs to take action."
Di Canio, a die-hard boyhood Lazio fan, also approached Lazio supporters after the match and repeated the gesture before throwing a black shirt into the crowd.