Mussolini’s great-grandson scores first goal and sparks controversy in Italy

The great-grandson of the former Italian dictator, Benito Mussolinimade the news again in Italy.

Romano Benito Floriani Mussolini21 years old, gained fame in the country a few months ago, when he began to stand out in Lazio’s youth teams. Last Sunday (22), he returned to the Italian headlines after scoring his first goal as a professional player.

Romano Mussolini scored the goal in Juve Stabia’s 1-0 victory over Cesena in Serie B.

However, in addition to the goal, the commotion in the country increased after the controversial celebration by fans in the Juve Stabia stands.

Romano Mussolini: fans celebrate with fascist gesture

The player revealed that, at the new club, they want him to be called Romano Mussolini, instead of Romano Floriani, the name he used at the beginning of his career.

And it was exactly this name, Romano Mussolini, that was announced over the stadium loudspeakers after the young athlete’s goal. The controversy over the surname could end there.

But several newspapers in Italy identified the “Roman salute” in the stands, in which an arm is raised forward, with the palm facing down, a gesture used by fascists during the time of Benito Mussolini.

Revealed by Lazio, Mussolini’s great-grandson did not make his debut for the Rome team’s first team. But it has been gaining ground in Italian football.

Last season, he played 28 games for Pescara. This year, he has 19 appearances, one goal and one assist for Juve Stabia.