Currently without a shirt sponsor, Lazio decided to wear an anti-racism message for their 2-1 win against Udinese. "We love football, we fight racism," it read, in English, with black and white handprints beneath the awkwardly phrased proclamations. This message appeared two days after the rejection of the club's appeal against a one-match closure of their Curva Nord section at the Stadio Olimpico for the racial abuse it aimed at Juventus players during last weekend's Super Cup match.
On the surface it's a noble gesture from a club that has long been plagued by incidents of racism. Looked at with a more cynical eye, it's an empty PR move from a side that often chooses to deny responsibility for ugly incidents rather than address the problems.
Incidentally, Lazio wore the even more direct and simplistic message of "NO RACISM" on their shirts when they played Udinese last year. But given last weekend's incident, it would seem that words on a shirt don't carry enough weight to influence the actions of all fans. Perhaps this why Lazio are having a hard time finding a paying shirt sponsor.
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