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Lazio fans in the stadium (symbolic image)

Photo: IPA Sport / ABACAPRESS / IMAGO

Before FC Bayern's Champions League game against Lazio, there was apparently an incident in Munich with visiting fans who were said to have chanted fascist chants.

The Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" published a cell phone video from the Hofbräuhaus in which Lazio football supporters sing a song, at the end of which they shout "Duce, Duce, Duce" (Leader) - referring to Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini (1883 -1945).

The video also shows how some fans in the well-known inn show the so-called Roman salute with an outstretched arm, which is popular with fascists - in Germany comparable to the Hitler salute.

Upon request, the Munich police confirmed that there was an operation at the Hofbräuhaus on Monday evening and that investigations are underway.

Details were not initially known.

The videos circulating on the Internet caused outrage and were strongly condemned by the sports commissioner of the city of Rome.

»The images of Lazio fans singing hymns in honor of the Duce and showing the Roman salute at the Champions League game in Munich are a shame for Lazio, for all fans and for the city of Rome.

That's why I condemn in the strongest terms what can be seen and is unfortunately going around the world in these hours," said Alessandro Onorato.

In response to a dpa inquiry, the Hofbräuhaus said that a group of Lazio fans had been accompanied by the police throughout the evening.

»We had no knowledge of any fascist songs that were being sung, nor did we notice any corresponding gestures from the guests.

Otherwise we would definitely have intervened,” the statement said.

As can be seen on the cell phone video, the fans sang about, among other things, the "Black Shirts", the paramilitary militias of Mussolini's fascists.

According to “Repubblica,” there were almost 100 Roman fans in the inn.

Such scenes have occurred again and again at Lazio games in the past.

There is a larger group of right-wing supporters in the club's fan base who also use the SS symbol.

The club is officially called SS (Società Sportiva) Lazio.

ara/dpa/sid