Monfalcone, a small town on Italy’s Adriatic coast, is a city with an important story of its own. Once a bustling hub of shipbuilding, the city is now facing internal conflict as it grapples with issues of identity and integration. A recent controversy has highlighted this tension: the ban on cricket, a sport loved by a significant portion of the city’s Bangladeshi community.
Confrontation over cricket
In the sweltering Italian heat, a group of Bangladeshi friends are practicing their cricket skills on a concrete field just outside Monfalcone. The city, known for its shipyards and strategic location near Trieste, has been in the news recently for an unexpected reason: its mayor, Anna Maria Cicint, has banned cricket within the city limits. The ban has sparked controversy, drawing attention to broader issues of immigration and cultural integration in Monfalcone.
Cricket, a sport deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Bangladesh, has become a symbol of the city’s cultural clashes. Mia Bappi, captain of the local cricket team, explains the situation with dismay. “If we were playing inside Monfalcone, the police would have already come to stop us,” he says, pointing to a group of Bengali teenagers who were fined for playing cricket in a local park. The fines can be up to €100, a large sum for many in the community.
The ban has become a focal point of tension between the local Italian population and the city’s growing Bangladeshi community. For many Bangladeshis, the ban feels like a denial of their cultural identity, fuelling feelings of exclusion and alienation.
Cultural tensions and political rhetoric
Monfalcone’s demographics have changed dramatically in recent decades. With a population of a little over 30,000, almost a third are now foreigners, mainly Bangladeshi Muslims who migrated to work in the shipyards in the late 1990s. This significant demographic shift has prompted a response from local political figures, particularly Mayor Anna Maria Sisint.
Sisint, a member of the far-right League party, was elected on a platform of anti-immigration and protection of local culture. Her tenure has been marked by efforts to “preserve” Monfalcone’s cultural identity, which she believes is under threat from the growing presence of foreign nationals. Her administration has removed benches from public spaces where Bangladeshis used to gather and has criticised the way Muslim women dress on the beach.
According to Sisint, the ban on cricket is justified by concerns about public safety and the lack of available space for a proper pitch. She argues that cricket balls pose a risk and claims the city cannot afford to build new facilities. Furthermore, they claim that the Bangladeshi community has not contributed to the city in a meaningful way.
“They have given nothing to this city, to our community. Zero,” Seisint told the BBC. “They are free to go and play cricket anywhere outside Monfalcone.” For many in the Bangladeshi community, this claim feels like a dismissal of their contributions and presence in the city.
Economic realities and labour shortages
The tensions between the local population and immigrants in Monfalcone are not just about cultural identity, but also about economic realities. The Fincantieri Shipyard, one of Europe’s largest shipyards, is a major employer in the city. Many Bangladeshis have come to Monfalcone specifically to work in the shipyard, where they are filling positions that local Italians are less willing to take.
Mayor Cisint has criticised Fincantieri for what he calls “wage dumping”, suggesting that the low wages paid to foreign workers are contributing to economic inequality. However, Fincantieri’s director, Cristiano Bazzara, insists that wages are in line with Italian laws and regulations. “We are unable to find trained workers,” explains Bazzara. “In Europe, it is very difficult to find young people who want to work in the shipyards.”
Italy’s demographic challenges are making the situation worse. With one of the lowest birth rates in Europe and a shrinking workforce, the country relies increasingly on foreign labour to fill essential roles. Current trends suggest that Italy will need an influx of foreign workers to keep its economy afloat in the coming decades.
Political and social repercussions
The impact of these issues extends beyond the city’s cricket fields. The mayor’s stance has been controversial and has fuelled tensions in Monfalcone. Sisint’s policies have faced legal challenges, including his efforts to ban mass prayer at local Islamic centers. A recent court ruling struck down his ban on mass prayer, highlighting the ongoing legal and social struggles surrounding his policies.
The mayor’s views have received considerable criticism not only from within Italy but also from the wider European community. His recent election to the European Parliament has given him a platform to advance his agenda, which he defends as a “religious movement”