News Focus
- Lega Serie A proposes moving five matches to Sunday at 12:00 CEST (11:00 UK)
- Local safety officials shifted the Rome Derby from Sunday afternoon to Monday evening
- The Italian Open tennis final creates a crowd control problem at the shared Foro Italico complex
- League chiefs threaten legal action but have not yet filed a formal appeal to the TAR tribunal
- A decision on the appeal could take an extra 24 hours if submitted
Confusion continues to grow regarding the Week 37 schedule in the Italian top flight. Five crucial matches, including the heated Rome Derby between AS Roma and SS Lazio, plus clashes involving Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli, currently lack confirmed kick-off times.
Originally, all five fixtures were set for Sunday afternoon. Simultaneous starts are essential to guarantee fairness in the tight race for Champions League qualification spots. However, safety concerns have forced local authorities to delay the Rome Derby until Monday night.
The problem centres on the Foro Italico sports complex. The Stadio Olimpico sits within the same grounds as the tennis courts hosting the Italian Open. The men’s tennis final is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 PM local time. Police officials worry that football fans and tennis spectators mixing in the same area could create dangerous crowds.
Ezio Simonelli, the president of Lega Serie A, spoke to reporters after a meeting with club representatives. He stated that the league respects the safety decision but does not agree with it. He put forward a new plan to start all five football matches at midday on Sunday. This would push the tennis final back to 5:30 PM local time.
Despite earlier reports, the league has not officially lodged an appeal with the TAR administrative tribunal. Simonelli confirmed they have only threatened this action. He explained that they hope to receive a response to their proposal by this evening. If the government rejects the plan, they will then take the matter to court. Any ruling from the tribunal would likely take another full day, extending the uncertainty even further.
Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, expressed clear frustration with the situation. He defended the safety decision as obvious and reasonable. He also criticised the league for poor planning, noting that the tennis tournament dates were fixed long ago. He suggested that Serie A officials should have checked the calendar before scheduling the Rome Derby for this particular weekend.