Forza Italia

Forza Italia is an Italian political party. It is headed by Silvio Berlusconi, who also is Prime Minister of Italy.

Football rhetoric

"Forza Italia" is shouted at football matches as an encouragement for the national team ("Go on Italy"), but it is no more popular as before because of the obvious political implications of using the name of a major political party. It should be noted that founder Silvio Berlusconi is also the owner of Serie A team AC Milan, and has used its many successes in football as a subject for propaganda. In 1994, talking about his direct rival in his electoral college, economist Luciano Spaventa, Berlusconi said "He should return when he's won a Champions League". Forza Italia supporters call themselves "Azzurri", another clear reference to the national football team, but this is rarely used by others. Names such as "forzista" or sometimes "forzitaliano" are considered neutral, while opponents sometime use the pejorative "forzitaliota", which ends in "iota", and rhymes with "idiota" (idiot).

Related Topics:
Football - National team - Serie A - AC Milan - 1994 - Luciano Spaventa - Champions League

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