The Italian top-flight league, Lega Serie A, has lodged an emergency appeal in an attempt to reschedule five of this weekend’s matches, including the highly anticipated Roma-Lazio derby. The appeal comes after their initial proposal to move the games from Monday evening to Sunday morning was rejected.
This ongoing scheduling dispute has created significant uncertainty, leaving ten teams unsure of the exact day and time they will play their Week 37 fixtures. The urgency stems from the intensely close race for Champions League qualification, necessitating that all games involving title contenders like Roma, Milan, Juventus, Napoli, and Como are played simultaneously to ensure fair competition.
Roma vs. Lazio Derby at the Center of Serie A’s Kick-off Dispute
The primary cause of this scheduling dilemma is the Rome Derby. Authorities are concerned about public safety due to the intense rivalry between Roma and Lazio fans. Compounding the issue is the coinciding Italian Open men’s singles tennis final, which is being held at the Foro Italico, an adjacent complex to the Stadio Olimpico.
Lega Serie A’s initial plan was to hold all affected matches on Sunday at 11:30 AM UK time (12:30 PM CEST). However, local authorities deemed this too close to the tennis tournament and a potential public safety risk. Consequently, the decision was made to move the games to Monday at 7:45 PM UK time (8:45 PM CEST), forcing the other four related fixtures to be rescheduled accordingly.
Lega Serie A then proposed an alternative: starting the matches at 11:00 AM UK time (12:00 PM CEST) and delaying the start of the Italian Open until 5:30 PM UK time (6:30 PM CEST). Despite this revised proposal, Rome’s local authorities have already deemed it unfeasible.
As a result, Lega Serie A has now formally appealed to the TAR tribunal, hoping for a resolution and clarity on the match schedule for the upcoming weekend by tomorrow.