CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Italy’s win against England on penalties at the final of the European Championship has seen days of celebrations amongst the nation’s far-flung global diaspora.
As usual, Australia’s Italian community were some of the most excitable, as they braved the winter darkness to watch the brave Gli Azzurri defy the media narrative that it was coming home.
Melbourne’s Little Italy of Lygon Street was packed from as early as 4 am on Monday morning, in scenes reminiscent of Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup glory.
There was also seas of blue, red, green and white Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide and Perth – as the rest of Australia’s Italian population took to the streets in the free states to let off flares and sing.
In Sydney, however, home to one of Australia’s biggest communities of Australian Azzurri supporters – there was no street party to celebrate this proud moment in world sport.
The Greater Sydney Lockdown means that tens of thousands of proud of Italian-Australians were forced to celebrate indoors.
The current social distancing restrictions has resulted in up to an 1800 noise complaints in Sydney’s rapidly gentrifying inner-west, as yuppie newcomers take issue with being woken up by their elderly neighbours singing Fratelli d’Italia at the top of their lungs at 5am.
The NSW Fire Department have also reported up to 500 call outs for smoke alarms over the last 48 hours, as overexcited fans let off flares indoors in celebration of this momentous occasion for the men in Blue.
Local member and Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese has today asked all emergency services and entitled gentrifiers to please consider the cultural significance that the 2021 Euro Final holds for his people, and has ruled that no one will be fined for wasting government resources – as long as they remain indoors.
In a rare showing of bi-partisanship, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has revealed he supports Albanese on this one.
IT’S COMING, ROME.
