REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – APRIL 01: Keep Racism Out logo is seen prior to the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and Udinese Calcio at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on April 01, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Serie A Week 37 games Roma-Lazio, Como-Parma, Genoa-Milan, Juventus-Fiorentina and Pisa-Napoli will all kick off on Sunday at 11.00 UK time (12.00 CEST).
A final decision was made this evening in a crisis summit between the local authorities and the Lega Serie A, having failed to reach an agreement for several days, and seeing the TAR tribunal reject an emergency appeal.
The situation has seen 10 teams unsure what day or time they were going to be on the field for Week 37.
Serie A in chaos for days
This is because the final two rounds must be played simultaneously to ensure fairness if an objective is at stake, not giving an advantage by knowing the other results.
As the race for the Champions League spots is so tight, that means Roma-Lazio, Como-Parma, Genoa-Milan, Juventus-Fiorentina and Pisa-Napoli all need to kick off at the same time.
The problem is that Roma vs. Lazio is at the Stadio Olimpico, the same complex as the Foro Italico, where the Italian Open tennis men’s singles final is due to take place on Sunday at 16.00 UK (17.00 CEST).
Having that many thousands of sports fans flocking into the same area would be dangerous, so the local authority Prefect intervened to order it be moved to Monday at 19.45 UK (20.45 CEST).
The Lega Serie A insisted on scheduling it for Sunday at 11.30 UK time (12.30 CEST), so after negotiations with the Prefect failed, they lodged an appeal to the TAR tribunal.
That was kicked back to the local authorities, who organised a summit this evening to get the various warring parties to find a solution.
The clubs have come out with wildly different views, as Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri said he would not turn up and President Claudio Lotito should withdraw the squad if they are forced to play on Sunday at midday.
Roma, on the other hand, backed their supporters who urged for the match to be scheduled on Sunday.
Having it on Monday would also have added issues, because there is a public transport strike scheduled for that day too.
