Footballers in the Italian Championship were banned from playing with number 88. The restriction will come into effect from next season, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Why did the authorities ban number 88?
The number 88 in radical nationalist circles may represent a coded Nazi salute, “Heil Hitler,” since both words in German begin with the letter H.
The restrictions are being introduced as part of the Italian government’s fight against anti-Semitism. The new rules prohibit any symbols associated with Nazism, as well as discriminatory speech at public events.
![Seydou Doumbia played in the Italian Seydou Doumbia played in the Italian](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/b331ef3e4828265bace4cf75079ccdae_cropped_546x355.jpg)
Last season, four players wore number 88 in Italy’s top football league, Serie A: Mateus Prašelik (Hellas Verona), Toma Rincón (Sampdoria), Toma Bašić (Lazio) and Mario Pasalic (Atalanta). .
Why do players take number 88?
When legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was young, he chose 88 — the number reminded him of four goals. This happened before the start of the 00/01 season and caused a scandal, so Buffon refused the number.
![Buffon number 88 Buffon number 88](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/450d4a8afc4cbb630864bfec59393b00_cropped_666x485.jpg)
“I chose 88 because it reminds me of four balls. In Italy we know that having balls is synonymous with strength and determination. Didn’t know the hidden meaning of 88. All this Nazi dirt hurts me. “I’m ready to change my number if it helps,” Buffon said.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet also chose number 88 when he moved to Club Brugge. The arithmetic is simple — you need to multiply the numbers: Mignolet used to play under 22, and Brugge became his fourth club — after Sint-Truiden, Sunderland and Liverpool. Moreover, he was born in 1988.
![Mignolet was born in 1988 Mignolet was born in 1988](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/8dacbbf7c10343dfffc33272b09f1c51_cropped_590x350.jpg)
How are numbers distributed in football?
Initially, 11 numbers appeared in football, which were distributed by position. Some traditions remain: goalkeepers often wear number 1, center forwards wear number 9, and team leaders and playmakers wear number 10.
But there is no strict binding — players choose numbers voluntarily. It all depends on the preferences of the player and whether the room is available.
![Denis Glushakov plays under the number eight, if busy - under the 88th Denis Glushakov plays under the number eight, if busy - under the 88th](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ebb24eb3554116d5ab17d5eecef6e38d_cropped_666x375.jpg)
Therefore, those who play under number 88 are most often far from Nazism. Someone played all his life under the “eight”, which turned out to be occupied by a new club. And some people just like the combination of numbers — athletes are often superstitious.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently played the last match of his career. He played for Milan wearing number 11. When he was busy, Zlatan chose number 21 — footballers treat numbers more simply than officials.