Lazio fans filmed making Nazi salutes on streets of Glasgow

Lazio fans before the match
Lazio fans before the match Copyright REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
By Orlando Crowcroft
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Football surporters were also heard chanting far right slogans.

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Fans of Italian football club Lazio made Nazi salutes during a march through the centre of Glasgow on Thursday night.

Supporters of the Rome club were filmed in Buchanan Street on their way to Celtic's football stadium, where they were due to play the Scottish club in a Europa League qualifier.

Several can be seen saluting while singing an Italian song - 'Avanti ragazzi di Buda' - that is popular with far right groups in Italy.

Police Scotland told Euronews that five people were ejected from the stadium during Lazio's tie with Celtic - which the Italian club lost 2-1. A further five were arrested outside the ground. Police did not confirm the nationalities of those arrested.

The police said investigations into the Nazi salutes by fans were ongoing.

The incident comes a little over a week since Lazio was ordered to close four sections of their stadium for the next Europa home game due to racist behaviour by fans during an earlier game against Stade Rennais.

The club were given a suspended sentence that required them to play one match behind closed doors if any other racist incidents occurred within 12 months.

UEFA told Euronews on Wednesday that disciplinary proceedings have been opened.

Both clubs have been charged under Article 16 (2) of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, which reads: 

"All associations and clubs are liable for the following inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters and may be subject to disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove the absence of any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match."

Celtic have been charged for both an 'illicit banner' as well as 'illicit chants', whereas Lazio's charge solely refers to 'illicit chants'.

These cases will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body at its next meeting on 21 November.

Celtic fans unfurled a huge banner that read 'F*ck Lazio" and another that showed the dead body of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, who was captured and hanged by Italian partisans in 1945.

Despite taking an early lead with a goal from Manuel Lazzari, the Italian club were beaten after second half goals from Ryan Christie and Christopher Julien.

The incident comes just weeks after six people were arrested for racist abuse during a Euro 2020 qualifier between England and Bulgaria in Sofia.

UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on charges including "racist behaviour", "throwing of objects", and "disruption of the national anthem". The incident led to the resignation of Bulgaria's football union chief Borislav Mihaylov.

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