Legal scrutiny of the Roman salute in Italy

Legal and administrative actions regarding the use of the ‘Roman salute’ in Italy have emerged in different contexts. In Milan, a judge dismissed charges against 18 far-right militants who performed the gesture during a 2023 procession. The public prosecutor argued the salute was intended to honor a deceased militant rather than pose a danger to the democratic framework or express discrimination.

In a separate incident in Rome, the Police Commissioner issued stadium bans, known as Daspo, to 16 AS Roma supporters following a match against Atalanta. The sanctions were imposed after a group of fans in the Curva Sud performed the Roman salute and wore t-shirts featuring the Nazi-associated phrase ‘uber alles’.

The bans, which apply to individuals aged between 19 and 42, carry a duration of one to five years and are enforceable throughout Italy, including matches involving the Italian national team and AS Roma matches played abroad. For four members of the group, restrictions are more severe, requiring them to report to police stations before, during, and after AS Roma matches. The length of these bans was determined based on the individuals' criminal records, which include offenses such as weapons possession, threats, damage, and rioting. Authorities applied these sanctions under the Mancino Law, which targets hate speech and racial or religious discrimination.