Lazio may have to play their next Europa League game behind closed doors after UEFA charged the club for the 'racist behaviour' of their fans during their 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach last Thursday.
------------------------------------------------------------
Predict result and win big with Soccer6
------------------------------------------------------------
European football's governing body confirmed on Tuesday that they would be charging the club after they found their fans guilty of "throwing missiles and or fireworks and insufficient organisation" during the home tie with the Gladbach.
In addition, three German fans were stabbed during confrontations in the build up to the match in what was the fourth incident of a racist nature involving the Rome club this season.
Lazio fans had previously been charged with racist behaviour during their Europa League home and away ties with Tottenham and Maribor, and now face the prospect of playing in an empty Stadio Olimpico when they host Stuttgart in the second-leg of their last-16 tie on March 14.
The club's president, Claudio Lotito, expressed his disappointment with the charge and suggested that the offenders may not necessarily be Biancocelesti fans.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "I would urge the media not to label the protagonists of all these incidents as 'Lazio fans'. Rome is a metropolis and as such is inhabited also by bad people.
"For example, there is no suggestion so far that those behind these incidents were part of Lazio's organised fan groups.
"Nobody is trying to justify this behaviour, but I say this because I am in constant contact with the police and want to understand if these people really are linked with Lazio.
"In my view they should do a quick trial and send them to prison for some time, so they don't have the chance to do it again."
Post A Comment!
Be the first to post a comment on this story