Lotito ‘to invite’ schoolchildren as Lazio boycott leaves Coppa Italia semi-final seats empty | OneFootball

Claudio Lotito has moved to bolster attendance for Lazio’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Atalanta by inviting schoolchildren to the Stadio Olimpico, a step that has angered organised fan groups amid an ongoing boycott.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that more than 28,000 season-ticket holders did not redeem seats for the 4 March tie, with just over 1,000 tickets sold, and that Lazio will bring in students from four schools, plus teachers, administrators and family members.

Organised supporters have been staying away from home games in a push for the unpopular owner to sell. Recent Serie A fixtures against Genoa and Atalanta were played in a near-empty Olimpico.

Head coach Maurizio Sarri and Adam Marusic had urged fans to return for the semi-final, but the organised groups confirmed they would still skip the 4 March contest.

The report said the invitation has infuriated those groups, who regard it as a ploy to manufacture a normal atmosphere and to mask the boycott.

The report added that people close to the club consider such school invitations a long-standing practice that has been run for years.

Source: The Laziali