Lazio have lost their appeal against a partial stadium ban for racist chants that reduced Samuel Umtiti to tears, while their ultras group release a statement accusing the authorities of ‘hypocrisy’ after playing the World Cup in Qatar.
The chants from visiting supporters at the Stadio Via del Mare on Wednesday were so clearly audible that Barcelona-owned defender and World Cup winner with France Umtiti was reduced to tears, while Lameck Banda was substituted at half-time.
The referee also threatened to stop play if the chants continued, while they were eventually drowned out by Lecce supporters calling Umtiti’s name.
The Curva Nord section of the Stadio Olimpico was ordered shut for tomorrow’s game and Lazio lost their appeal to have the ban revoked.
The group released a statement with their usual complete lack of regret or self-awareness, showing just what Lazio and sadly many other Italian clubs have to deal with in the core of the Ultras movement.
“It is the usual hypocritical football world that is ready to judge, condemn and punish in the name of political correctness,” read the missive.
“They are indignant over a chant and close an entire sector with 10,000 seats. For what reason? Let us remind them that they accepted – for money – to play a World Cup in Qatar, a country that truly is racist, homophobic and discriminatory to the bone, where women cannot even leave their homes.
“Let us refresh their memories, because this is what the stadium has always been, insulting opposition supporters and their mothers with insults, but nobody has ever bothered to close a sector. And that’s how it should be.
“They did it with us Lazio fans in order to hurt us, to sink us in the name of a fight against (false) racism that they use the way they want to.
“We continue, without bowing and as always in defence of our Lazio, in every stadium in Italy and Europe, in the face of those who attack us and want to break us down. They must be aware it will never work.”
Vermin
Amazing…the audacity to appeal is nothing more than a wink and a nod telling these animals the team supports their actions.
SAD TEAM
Racist fans has no logic.