Lazio dismisses furore over racist chants by fans

Italian club Lazio was embroiled in controversy on Saturday after racist and anti-Semitic chanting which scarred a Coppa Italia tie was dismissed by the club as a “psychosis focusing on a minority or nonexistent incidents”.

Lazio crushed third-division Novara 4-1 in their last-16 game at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

However, their hardcore ultrafans aimed a series of ugly barbs at the club’s city rivals Roma, with taunts of “Yellow, red and Jewish” and “This Roma that looks like Africa”.

They also targeted police who clashed with Lazio fans on Wednesday at Piazza della Liberta in the capital when celebrations to mark the club’s 119th anniversary turned violent. Eight police officers were injured and four supporters arrested.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan played Benevento late on Sunday in a closed San Siro as punishment for racist chanting against Napoli’s FrancoSenegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly in a Serie A game on December 26 2018.

Lazio spokesperson Arturo Diaconale blasted reports of the chanting by a small section of the crowd as “a psychosis”.

“I am one of the 98% of people in the stadium who didn’t hear them,” he said. “The club naturally condemns any racist or anti-Semitic chants .... I think it’s a form of psychosis focusing on either a minority or nonexistent incidents.”

On the pitch, Ciro Immobile scored a first-half double, after Luis Alberto’s 12th-minute opener with Sergej MilinkovicSavic claiming the fourth before the break. Umberto Eusepi pulled a goal back for Novara, a third-tier side, from the penalty spot just after the break.

Holders Juventus booked their ticket to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win at Bologna, with AC Milan going through by the same scoreline after extra time against Sampdoria. Juventus and AC Milan will meet in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday.

Juventus eased through with Federico Bernardeschi opening the scoring after nine minutes and Moise Kean adding the second goal four minutes after the break.

In Genoa, Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta started for Milan after his arrival from Flamengo in a €35m deal last week, along with Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain amid speculation he is to move to Chelsea.

Higuain thought he had scored but was ruled offside.

Patrick Cutrone came on as a substitute in extra time with his two superb volleys on 102 and 108 minutes setting up a meeting for 2018’s finalists with either Napoli or Sassuolo.

“We need to regain our energy. It will be a big match and one that can help us with our character, it could be a turning point for us,” said AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso of next Wednesday’s game.

Roma entertain thirddivision Virtus Entrella on Monday.