Federico Chiesa song: What are the lyrics to Liverpool chant and why do some fans find it controversial?

Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career hasn’t generated a host of headlines, but one song continues to put him in the spotlight.

The Italian has found chances hard to come by since joining the Reds from Juventus last summer, but he finally got his big moment in front of the Kop on the 2025/26 Premier League opening night.

Chiesa came off the bench to score the crucial go-ahead goal against Bournemouth as Arne Slot‘s side got their season off to a winning start with a 4-2 victory.

After letting a two-goal lead slip, the 27-year-old kept his cool to volley home in the 88th minute and put the Reds back in front.

This was just his third goal in Liverpool colours, and his first in the Premier League, having endured an injury-hit first year at the club.

Chiesa played a total of just 104 minutes in the league last term, leaving fans precious little time to belt out a chant that has become a favourite.

So as soon as he wheeled away in celebration against the Cherries, Anfield erupted and serenaded him with the chant in question.

But how does the song go? Well, to the tune of Dean Martin’s ‘Sway’, the song’s lyrics are:

What has Chiesa said about the song?

Since debuting last season, Chiesa’s chant has become a staple of the Anfield songbook.

Chiesa is certainly a fan of it, as he admitted after the Bournemouth thriller: “I am really grateful for the song they are singing.

“It was really, really emotional.”

While its most memorable rendition so far came against the Cherries, the Italy star is unlikely to forget another time supporters treated him to a chorus.

After Liverpool wrapped up the Premier League title last term, the players celebrated with an open-top bus parade through the city, where they were greeted by fans in their thousands.

And whilst taking the acclaim on the top deck, Chiesa thanked them for their support, in a season where he started just four of his 14 appearances.

He said: “The song – I have to thank the fans.

“I didn’t play that much this year, but to receive this love back from the fans is just amazing.

“I have to thank them. And the song actually has a good tune!”

Why has Chiesa’s song been called controversial?

The chant had been sung for months before concerns over two lines were raised and generated national media coverage.

Tony Evans, former football editor of The Times, went viral for his concerns over the song’s alleged Heysel connotations.

The journalist attributed the phrases, “you can hear them crying in Turin” and “one chat with Arne Slot, and he said ‘ciao, f*** off Juve, I’m a Kopite now'” to Heysel, having been at the 1985 European Cup final.

This sparked a similar piece from The Athletic’s Merseyside-based football writer, Simon Hughes, who admitted the links made him uncomfortable.

Heysel Stadium disaster

May of this year marked the 40th anniversary of the Heysel disaster, so named for the stadium in which it took place during the 1985 European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool in Brussels, Belgium.

‘The Old Lady’ lifted their first European Cup after a 1-0 win, but the scenes were overshadowed by events that took place before kick-off.

Thirty-nine fans, mainly Italians and Juve supporters, tragically lost their lives, and 600 were injured after being crushed by a collapsed wall that separated them from Liverpool fans.

The disaster resulted in all English clubs being banned from Europe for five years, with the Reds exiled for a further 12 months.

Forty years later, and many in Turin have still never forgiven Liverpool, with Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero admitting the Heysel tragedy played a part in his decision to reject a move to Anfield in 2012.

The two clubs have not faced each other in a competitive fixture in over two decades, since the 2005 Champions League quarter-finals.

During the first-leg at Anfield, sections of the travelling Juventus fans turned their backs on a display on the Kop that spelt out ‘friendship’ in Italian, while others held up signs reading, ‘We haven’t forgotten.’

What is the reaction from Italy toward Chiesa’s song?

Former Fox Sports editor in chief and DAZN head of content development Emanuele Corazzi offered a different perspective.

“To be honest, this song was not that known in Italy and still now doesn’t have a big echo [around it],” the Milan-based reporter exclusively told talkSPORT.com.

“I don’t think anyone was offended in Italy, and I don’t think Juventus fans particularly miss Federico.”

The ex-Sky Italia journalist also rejected claims that Liverpool fans should change the lyrics following the recent online storm.

He added: “I think the goliardic side of English chants are fantastic and should never change if not offensive, and this is not offensive.”