LAZIO FANS: UEFA HAVE HELPED HOOPS
FURIOUS Lazio fans have accused UEFA of handing Celtic an Europa League leg-up after ordering the closure of the Stadio Olimpico’s Ultras section. The Serie A side’s infamous Curva Nord section will be shut for next month’s clash in Rome after being found guilty of charges of racism. Celtic are expecting to take up to 10,000 fans to Rome – with the home crowd being slashed by almost
9000 as punishment for the fascist salutes.
Lazio have averaged less than 20,000 in Europe this season and could have more than half the crowd for the November 8 clash.
Punters have reacted furiously to the shut-out – with the Irriducibili Ultras group accusing footballing chiefs of giving Celts an advantage.
Spokesman Yuri Alviti said: “It’s a farcical sentence because UEFA punish the weakest teams in these situations. Our club just accept this and once again Lazio fans are paying the consequences.
“Against Celtic they will have 10,000 fans in our stadium. Our players need the contribution of the Curva Nord. UEFA have given Celtic a massive advantage.
“We are amazed at this punishment but we see no point of further challenging this and inviting further punishment and we have decided there are other ways we can make our voices heard.
“So for our games against Atalanta and when we play Celtic in Rome, we invite every single Lazio fan to wear a scarf and wave a flag. Colouring the Stadio Olimpico in Lazio colours will be our response.”
Celtic face Lazio in Glasgow on Thursday but the Italians are on their guard with UEFA warning any more flashpoints in the next 12 months will lead to matches being played behind closed doors.
Lazio spokesman Arturo Diaconale has pleaded with the punters to behave.
He said: “Unfortunately the behaviour of a very small number of fans, around 20, risks putting in doubt the team’s progress in the Europa League.
“We’re constrained to playing in a stadium where we can’t count on the whole Curva Nord.
“Furthermore, this behaviour means there’s a risk of playing behind closed doors after that.
“President (Claudio) Lotito’s zero-tolerance approach avoided a more harsh sanction and we have to follow it.
“Political opinions are legitimate but there’s no sense in expressing them inside the stadium. Above all when we know there’s a particular focus on Lazio from UEFA.
“These actions damage Lazio and the majority of fans, do them elsewhere and not in the stadium.”
Meanwhile, Celtic have been fined £10,000 after fans let off flares against CFR Cluj.
The club have been charged 17 times by UEFA in the last 12 years, with fans consistently violating the governing body’s rules.
After the charge was announced the club released a statement calling on supporters at Celtic Park to stop any behaviour which could lead to further charges.
It added: “The serious safety concerns associated with such behaviour are obvious as is the reputational damage these charges have on the club.
“In addition, the numerous financial penalties placed on Celtic continue to come out the pockets of supporters who invest in the club.
“Celtic will introduce further measures in order to deal with this behaviour. It has to stop.
“Given the number of repeated offences, we should also be very aware that there could be further, very serious repercussions, which could have hugely detrimental consequences for the club and our supporters.
“It is hugely unfair that the enjoyment of Celtic matches could potentially be affected by the negative behaviour of a tiny minority.”