Lazio have released a statement condemning the banner insulting Elseid Hysaj and calling the club fascist.
As seen on Lazio’s official website earlier today, the Biancocelesti are furious with the banner and want to distance themselves from the ultras who signed and hung the banner on a bridge in Rome yesterday, which read “Hysaj worm, Lazio is fascist.”
MORE: Correa May Stay With Lazio as Talks With PSG Have Stalled
The 27-year-old Hysaj has been at the centre of the controversy after choosing to sing the famous partisan song ‘Bella Ciao‘ for his initiation following the Roman club’s 10-0 friendly win over local side Radio Club last week.
The song was made famous by Spanish TV series La Casa del Papel, with some claiming that he was simply singing a song from a popular show that he’s a fan of.
MORE: Banner in Rome Signed by Lazio Ultras: “Hysaj Worm, Lazio Is Fascist”
Many Lazio fans on social media have come out in support of the Albanian full-back, with the hashtag #iostoconHysaj (I am with Hysaj) trending on Twitter.
Below is Lazio’s official statement on the matter in full:
Società Sportiva Lazio strongly condemns the shameful banner against the football player Elseid Hysaj. It’s not the first episode of this kind. We will never be on the side of those who deny the values of sport. Instead, we are unhesitatingly on the side of our athlete and all the other players involved in our pre-season training camp.
We clearly distance ourselves from those who want to exploit this affair for political ends, which is damaging to the team, all Lazio fans and the Club.
We won’t be intimidated by those people who use violent and aggressive tones: there’s no place for them in our world, that is inspired by the healthy sporting values of fairness and competition, mutual respect and civil coexistence and it’s aimed at overcoming all social, cultural, economic and racial barriers.
