News Focus
- TAR tribunal returns fixture dispute to local authorities and league officials without issuing a binding decision
- The Rome derby shares its venue complex with the Italian Open tennis final, creating serious safety concerns
- Local prefecture demands Monday evening kick-off, while Lega Serie A insists on Sunday lunchtime slot
- Five matches involving AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli remain in limbo due to simultaneous kick-off requirements
- Ten clubs still await confirmation of their Week 37 match schedules with the weekend fast approaching
Football supporters in Italy face continued uncertainty over the weekend fixture list after a regional administrative court declined to resolve the scheduling crisis involving the capital derby. The TAR tribunal has instead returned the matter to local government officials and Serie A’s governing body, demanding they settle the conflict through immediate negotiations.
The controversy centres on the Stadio Olimpico, which shares its grounds with the Foro Italico tennis complex. The Italian Open men’s singles final is set for Sunday afternoon at 17:00 local time (18:00 EAT), creating a potential security nightmare if thousands of football fans arrive for the AS Roma versus SS Lazio match at the same time.
Local prefecture officials had ordered the derby to move to Monday evening at 20:45 local time (21:45 EAT) to avoid dangerous overcrowding. However, league administrators insisted on a Sunday lunchtime slot at 12:30 local time (13:30 EAT) to maintain the integrity of the championship’s penultimate round. When negotiations collapsed, the football association escalated the matter to the TAR tribunal seeking an emergency ruling.
Judges rejected the appeal this evening, offering no binding resolution. They merely invited the Prefect and Lega Serie A representatives to reach consensus through further talks. These discussions are underway tonight as the clock ticks down to the weekend.
The deadlock affects five separate fixtures. Because teams are battling fiercely for Champions League qualification, Week 37 games must start at identical times to prevent any competitive advantage. This means the kick-off times for Como against Parma, Genoa versus AC Milan, Juventus hosting Fiorentina, and Pisa’s meeting with Napoli all depend on when authorities finally schedule the capital derby.
Ten clubs remain in the dark about their exact match times just days before they are due to play. The league requires simultaneous kick-offs for the final two rounds whenever league positions or European qualification spots remain undecided.