Italy player broke official protocols to wear a banned shirt number for the national team

Italy's squad numbers at Euro 2024 range from 1 to 26 and it's a good job - because there is another number outside of that ranged that has been banned by the country's football governing body.

The Azzurri will head into the tournament in Germany as one of the favourites to win after claiming the 2020 trophy with victory over England at Wembley.

Italy's players will be numbered from 1 to 26 as per UEFA's strict kit number rules but their players are prevented from wearing another specific shirt number after an agreement was signed between the Italian Football Association and the government last year.

In June 2023, the decision was made for the number 88 to be banned for the national side.

At the same time, Italy's top division Serie A agreed to ban the number for all teams playing in the league.

The decision was made as part of a measure to clamp down on antisemitism in Italy, with the number 88 being seen as a reference to a Nazi slogan.

The controversial shirt number has surrounded Italian football for decades, after legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wore it while playing for Parma in 2000.

Speaking in a press conference to address the controversy at the time, the football icon said: “I have chosen 88 because it reminds me of four balls and in Italy, we all know what it means to have balls: strength and determination.

“And this season I will have to have balls to get back my place in the Italy team."

He continued: “At first, I didn't choose 88, I wanted 00 but the league told me that was impossible. I also considered 01 but that was not considered a proper number.”

Buffon, who was 22 at the time, later changed his number to 77 ahead of the 2000/01 season.

His initial decision to wear 88 wasn’t the first time that the Italian came under criticism for a controversial shirt.

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He had previously worn a shirt with the slogan 'Boia chi milla' which translates to 'Death to cowards' – a slogan used by fascists during Benito Mussolini’s dictatorship.

The goalkeeper also addressed this controversy in the 2000 press conference, saying: “When I wore that shirt, I was stupid because I did not know it was a phrase used by the fascist regime.”

Despite causing drama with his football shirts, Buffon stayed at Parma until 2001 before joining Italian giants Juventus, where he won 10 Serie A titles among various other major accolades.

He would later go on to win the 2006 World Cup with Italy, wearing the traditional No.1 shirt for a goalkeeper.