15 votes

Italian soccer players banned from wearing No. 88 on jerseys in campaign against antisemitism

9 comments

  1. sublime_aenima
    Link
    Sadly my assumption is that it will be handled the same way racism is handled in Serie A, a denial by all in power that there’s a problem.

    The initiative also calls for games to be suspended in case of antisemitic chants or acts — similar to the way cases of racism are supposed to be handled.

    Sadly my assumption is that it will be handled the same way racism is handled in Serie A, a denial by all in power that there’s a problem.

    6 votes
  2. [6]
    manosinistra
    Link
    Sorry, totally uninformed here. Why is 88 bad? (Happens to be my favorite number and Chinese people consider 8 to be a lucky number.)

    Sorry, totally uninformed here. Why is 88 bad?

    (Happens to be my favorite number and Chinese people consider 8 to be a lucky number.)

    4 votes
    1. [5]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      8 = H (8th letter in the alphabet) 88 = HH (used by white supremacists to represent "Heil Hitler") More info here: https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/88

      8 = H (8th letter in the alphabet)
      88 = HH (used by white supremacists to represent "Heil Hitler")

      More info here:
      https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/88

      10 votes
      1. [4]
        pie
        Link Parent
        I was also completely unaware of this until a few years ago, often choosing 88 when necessary to include a number in a username or whatever, in reference to Back to the Future. I am still annoyed...

        I was also completely unaware of this until a few years ago, often choosing 88 when necessary to include a number in a username or whatever, in reference to Back to the Future.

        I am still annoyed that an innocent reference to a joyful film is somehow usurped by childish Nazi secret code bullshit.

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          snacksUK
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          theres a really good article on nazi dogwhistles in 2023 but ill have to paraphrase. It was a study on public signals on media, which are designed to only be interpreted by a specific audience who...

          theres a really good article on nazi dogwhistles in 2023 but ill have to paraphrase. It was a study on public signals on media, which are designed to only be interpreted by a specific audience who are ‘in’ on the gag. Everyone else it washes over, the joke being ‘we are in plain sight lol’. There are some cracking examples and 88 and 420 are both big ones. 420 is april 20th/hitlers birthday. 88 is HH or heil hitler. If I can find it ill post it up. These limp dicks dont have any actual jokes as they always involve laughing at minorities, or punching down.

          edit: found article
          https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/04/04/how-not-to-interpret-far-right-symbols/

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            PelagiusSeptim
            Link Parent
            While that usage of 420 does exist, I think as a dogwhistle it's much less effective than 88 because it's so popularly known as the weed number

            While that usage of 420 does exist, I think as a dogwhistle it's much less effective than 88 because it's so popularly known as the weed number

            2 votes
            1. snacksUK
              Link Parent
              yes thats exactly my point, or the point of the article. They co-opt and signal to their ‘group’ using common language, and the recipient understands it as intented

              yes thats exactly my point, or the point of the article. They co-opt and signal to their ‘group’ using common language, and the recipient understands it as intented

              2 votes
  3. busyant
    Link
    Years ago, Gigi Buffon (arguably, Italy's greatest goalkeeper ever) was planning on wearing 88 for one of his club teams. There was significant criticism and he ultimately opted for a different...

    Years ago, Gigi Buffon (arguably, Italy's greatest goalkeeper ever) was planning on wearing 88 for one of his club teams. There was significant criticism and he ultimately opted for a different number. I believe he wore "1" for the national team.

    I don't know what Buffon's politics are, but my recollection at the time is that he claimed (after the backlash) that the double-circles in the number 8 symbolized soccer balls and masculinity (testicles), so, according to him, 88 represented his massive balls.

    Who knows what the truth is/was.

    4 votes
  4. Halfdan
    Link
    From the article linked in the article: Really? The Nazi salute is associated with fascism? Gee, that there journalist really did his research!

    From the article linked in the article:

    Two other fans of the Roman club were also banned for life for performing Roman salutes, which are associated with fascism.

    Really? The Nazi salute is associated with fascism? Gee, that there journalist really did his research!

    1 vote