A Lazio ultras group has courted controversy with an ‘ironic’ banner supporting the Qatar World Cup ambassador who said homosexuality was ‘damage in the mind.’
The ultras posted an image of themselves holding up a banner before tonight’s game against Monza outside the Stadio Olimpico.
It read: ‘Khalid Salman… The Lazio ultras stand with you!’
Salman had hit the headlines this week for declaring that homosexuality was “damage in the mind” just days before the World Cup is due to begin in Qatar.
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, leading to some nations warning their fans might want to avoid travelling for the tournament and others demanding a boycott.
The Lazio banner was an ironic statement, as explained by a press release from the day before, after these same ultras were condemned by Government figures for anti-Semitic chants during the Rome Derby.
“The usual do-gooders are ready to point the finger at the Curva Nord and the Lazio Ultras, scandalised by a chant that all the fans were singing, including families.
“A chant that in the real sense of the word has absolutely nothing anti-Semitic about it. Try to prove the opposite!
“The same do-gooders who accepted silently, with their tails between their legs, to participate in the World Cup in Qatar where human rights are trampled on a daily basis, where women are lashed and stoned every day.
“The do-gooders who sold themselves for cash, bowing their heads to one of the most anti-Semitic, homophobic and dictatorial countries in history and averted their eyes from the 6,500 workers who died building the new stadiums.
“The same do-gooders who ignored the phrase from the Qatar ambassador who said ‘homosexuality is a mental disturbance.’
“But when there’s money involved, everything is allowed!”
The banner ‘supporting’ Khalid Salman was therefore an ironic statement, explained their Instagram post, to see if people would blame them more than the person who made that offensive statement in the first place.
It was not a very popular stance, one that was criticised by other Lazio fans on the same Instagram post, who said they were tired of seeing the club’s name dragged through the mud by the Ultras and their history of racist, anti-Semitic, Fascist banners and chants.
On point as always! Well said lads!
God bless the Lazio Ultras. Few real men left, prove me wrong !
Finally the Ultras are right about something
They could also add to their statement a part about FIFA’s greenwashing. FIFA lie that this is the first carbon neutral WC but it is actually by far the worst WC for the environment with a carbon footprint 3 times that of the the last one.