Political Orientations in Italian Football – Livorno FC as a Case Study
Italian society, like any other society, is influenced by its country’s history filled with political conflicts between kingdoms and city-states with different political orientations, as well as the ancient history of the country during the Roman Empire era that inspired the fascists in the 1920s in their attempts to restore the glories of ancient Rome. This influence is still tangible to this day among Italian society and crowds.
Below are some Italian league clubs and their social and political orientations:
Livorno FC: Europe’s First Left-Wing Club
The first left-wing club in Europe, representing the city of Livorno, the stronghold of the Italian Communist Party.
The history of this coastal city influenced its adoption of these ideas. During the 16th century, the Medici family, rulers of Florence, built a port in this city and allowed foreign traders of all races to settle in the city: Jews, Turks, Armenians, and Persians, forming a cosmopolitan community in this city, which contributed to strengthening the internationalist ideas of the city’s inhabitants.
In 1921, the formation of the Italian Communist Party in Livorno reinforced the city’s left-wing traditions. Remarkably, until 2014, all of Livorno’s mayors were either Communists or ex-Communists, demonstrating the enduring political character of the city. This cultural and political history proved unchangeable, and since the establishment of Ultras Livorno in 1976, the Curva Nord at Armando Picchi Stadium—ironically, a stadium originally named “Stadio Edda Ciano Mussolini” after Benito Mussolini’s daughter—has been a permanent outlet for Livorno’s identity.
Livorno’s passionate fans have always been supporters of the Palestinian cause, raising Palestinian flags and pictures of Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader, Che Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary, and Stalin, the Soviet leader, at every occasion. The most notorious ultra group, Brigate Autonome Livornesi (BAL), formed in 1999, was known for its hardline communist values and aimed to stop the rise of fascism in Italy before disbanding in 2008. Among their most famous chants is the song “Bella Ciao,” the Italian popular resistance song during World War II (which recently became famous as the song from the Spanish series La Casa de Papel).
The club’s historical striker and captain, and son of the city, Cristiano Lucarelli, was a bearer and defender of left-wing ideas. He once celebrated one of his goals by lifting his shirt to reveal a picture of Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, and he always celebrated his goals by raising his fist high (one of the communist symbols). Lucarelli was also in constant conflict with Lazio star Paolo Di Canio, the far-right extremist.
To be continued…
Sources and References
- Jacobin Magazine – “In Livorno, Italy’s Most Famous Left-Wing Football Club Is Fighting to Survive” – jacobin.com
- Maremma Tirreno Itinerari – “Via della Madonna and multicultural Livorno” – maremmatirrenoitinerari.it
- Gentleman Ultra – “Cristiano Lucarelli & Livorno: A bond forged in red” – gentlemanultra.com
- Medium – “Italy’s Communist Football Club. The last relic of Italian Communism” by Nicola Bosch – medium.com
Note: This article does not express any viewpoint or propaganda for any political or religious idea or theory and is a portrayal of the reality and history of society in the countries where we follow football.
