Italian football officials probe fans' alleged fascist gesture after goal by Mussolini's great-grandson

ANKARA

Italian football officials are investigating an alleged fascist gesture by some fans after Benito Mussolini’s great-grandson scored in a weekend match, local media reported.

Italian Football Federation prosecutors launched the probe into the actions of Juve Stabia fans in Castellammare – in the greater Naples area – after Romano Floriani Mussolini scored the winning goal against Cesena in a lower-tier match, the state-run ANSA news agency reported on Wednesday.

Romano, 21, is the great-grandson of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, an ally of Adolf Hitler who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943, and the son of Alessandra Mussolini, a former Italian and European MP.

Video footage showed Juve Stabia fans shouted out “Mussolini” after Romano scored and the crowd appeared to gesture with one arm outstretched, a move which reminded some of a fascist salute.

Romano was loaned out by Lazio to play for Juve Stabia this season.

In a statement, Juve Stabia rejected media reports that their fans had made a fascist salute.

The club said that it is "absolutely calm" as its fans have celebrated the team’s goals the same way since it was founded in 1907, over a century ago.

It added that once a goal is scored, the name of the scorer is announced loudly by speaker in the stadium and the crowd shouts out his last name, and the fans "raise their arms to the sky" to show their joy.