Rome, Lazio, Italy, December 23 – Eight years were not enough to reach a verdict for twelve Lazio fans accused of attaching stickers with the face of Anne Frank wearing a Roma jersey in the Curva Sud of the Olympic Stadium on October 22, 2017. Yesterday, the court, after numerous legitimate postponements, could only declare the crime of inciting racial hatred extinguished due to prescription. This ruling is seen as a defeat following the outcry, appeals, verbal condemnations, and indignation caused by the ill-conceived and antisemitic initiative attributed to the defendants.
The Offensive Act and Initial Reactions
The incident occurred during a Lazio-Cagliari match, where Lazio supporters were seated in the Curva Sud due to a previous closure of their usual sector following racist chants. The defendants, aged between 25 and 60, all from Rome and its province, were identified as belonging to the extremist faction of Lazio supporters. Along with the Anne Frank stickers, they displayed phrases such as “Romanista Jew,” “Romanista Aronne Piperno,” and other clearly derogatory and mocking expressions.
When questioned, some defendants claimed they did not know who Anne Frank was, with others stating they confused her with “Fantozzi’s daughter.” These justifications further intensified public outrage, as it seemed implausible that some were unaware of Anne Frank’s story-a symbol of the Shoah who died in 1945 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, known for her Diary written while hiding from the Nazis.
A Prolonged Legal Process
The legal proceedings spanned eight years. Two of these years were dedicated to identifying the culprits through investigations. Another five years were spent on postponements, reassignment of the case files, and preliminary issues, including the calibration of cameras that had recorded the defendants’ faces. By December 2023, six years after the initial incident, it became clear that the outcome would likely be a declaration of prescription.
Community’s Disappointment and Legal Commentary
Cesare Gai, the lawyer representing the Jewish Community, which joined the case as a civil party, expressed his disappointment: “We can only acknowledge the expiry of the terms. However, it is satisfying that the court chose prescription over acquittal, meaning the act was considered execrable.” This statement underscores the community’s view that despite the lack of a conviction, the court recognized the severity of the offense.
Implications for Future Cases
The outcome of this case highlights the challenges in prosecuting hate crimes, particularly when legal processes are prolonged. The incident itself sparked widespread condemnation from political figures, sports organizations, and civil society groups, leading to calls for stronger measures against antisemitism and racial discrimination in sports. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and other bodies had previously taken steps to combat such behavior, but this ruling raises questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in delivering timely verdicts.
The incident remains a stark reminder of the persistent issues of racism and antisemitism within some segments of football fan culture. While the legal process has concluded without a definitive judgment on the defendants’ guilt, the public discourse and the condemnation of the act itself have served to reinforce the importance of combating hate speech.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_dicembre_23/anna-frank-romanista-per-dodici-tifosi-laziali-dichiarata-la-prescrizione-del-reato-di-istigazione-all-odio-razziale-5a9496f4-33ff-4ae6-b6bd-f1af68f68xlk.shtml
