Nazi, fascist symbols: Blame it on police

Serie A club Roma said they were doing all to prevent their fans from bringing nazi and fascist symbols into the Olympic stadium and that it was down to the police to confiscate them.

Serie A club Roma said on Monday they were doing all they could to prevent their fans from bringing nazi and fascist symbols into the Olympic stadium and that it was down to the police to confiscate them.

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Flags bearing swastikas, celtic crosses and pictures of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini were displayed in the home supporters end during Sunday's 3-0 home win over Livorno, despite legislation banning them from the terraces.

"The checks at the turnstiles can only be made by the police," said Roma director Daniel Prade.

"We are there only to support the authorities. The fact is that as a club we don't know what more we can do."

Rome's mayor Walter Veltroni said such symbolism did not belong in football.

"Politics must stay out of the stadiums, especially this type of defence of nazism which caused so many deaths and so much horror."

Veltroni added that such behaviour was "intolerable", pointing out that Rome had been used as a deportation centre by the nazis during World War II and that a mass civilian grave had been found there.

Last week Lazio captain Paolo Di Canio was banned for one match and heavily fined for making a fascist salute.

The 37-year-old made the gesture during a 2-1 defeat at Livorno on December 11 last year.