I am sorry to disappoint you but no, things are not starting to get dicey in Italy, at least not yet. I am italian and value that Guardian report as I value one written in "Novella 2000". Those reported are single episodes and UK journalism is trying to build a case out of nothing as happened other times in the past.

P.S: I live in Rome and here people are still singing. P.P.S: "Novella 2000" is the unquestionable italian king of trash gossip magazines.