Lazio: Rovella and Cataldi quizzed over ultras links | OneFootball

The investigation by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office into the relationships between some Lazio players and the leaders of the Curva Nord continues. Nicolò Rovella and Danilo Cataldi were heard as persons informed of the facts. All the details on the investigation and the key figures.

Lazio, investigation into relations between players and ultras: Rovella and Cataldi heard by prosecutors

At Lazio, the investigation led by public prosecutors Francesco Cascini and Francesco Gualtieri continues to dominate, aiming to reconstruct the network of relationships and possible pressure exerted by the ultras on the Biancocelesti players.

As reported by the newspaper Domani, in recent hours Nicolò Rovella and Danilo Cataldi, both midfielders and locker-room reference figures, were also heard as persons informed of the facts.

Seven players already questioned by investigators

In total, seven Lazio players have been summoned and heard. In addition to Rovella and Cataldi, those already questioned include:

Ivan Provedel, first-choice goalkeeper;

Luca Pellegrini, full-back from the Roman district of Tor Bella Monaca;

Ciro Immobile, former Biancocelesti captain;

Adam Marusic, defensive wide player;

Alessio Romagnoli, center-back and declared Lazio fan.

The hearings took place in recent weeks before the Carabinieri and magistrates, with sessions lasting in some cases over an hour. Players were shown photographs of some historical figures from the Curva to clarify any contacts or meetings.

None of the players are under investigation.

The Monza-Lazio precedent: the confrontation under the stands

A key episode in the investigators’ reconstruction is linked to the Monza-Lazio match in May 2024.

The match, which ended 2-2, was followed by a heated confrontation between players and ultras beneath the away section. Reports spoke of a “near brawl,” with harsh tones and palpable tension. Immobile, Luis Alberto, Guendouzi, and Romagnoli went under the Curva.

After a few minutes of tension, the situation calmed with a symbolic exchange of shirts and shorts.

On social media, Luis Alberto tried to defuse the controversy: “The fans urged us to give everything until the end. I have always had and will always have an excellent relationship with them.”

Adam Marusic also offered a measured account: “We spoke with the fans; they asked us all to come under the Curva. It was a normal, supportive discussion.”

Pressure, protests, and a tense atmosphere

Lazio is going through a complex phase: between protests against the management, a stalled transfer market, and the return of Maurizio Sarri to the bench, the team has come under fire.

Investigators are checking whether, in some cases, the presence of the Curva Nord has overstepped the boundaries of simple support, turning into a form of conditioning or pressure.

The investigations focus on well-known figures in the organized fan base, including Giovanni Valente and Francesco Cuomo, the latter a Roman tattoo artist and former city council candidate with Fratelli d’Italia.

New tensions: the Bologna-Lazio case

A similar episode also occurred after the heavy 5-0 defeat in Bologna. On that occasion too, the Nord fans requested a meeting with the team.

It was Marco Baroni, then Biancocelesti coach, who eased the tension by publicly taking responsibility for the débâcle.

An entrenched system between Curva and business

According to investigative findings, the inquiry concerns not only Lazio but also the relationships between ultras groups from different fan bases, where fandom sometimes intertwines with economic interests and power dynamics.

Among the names cited by investigators is Andrea Beretta, a former ultra who later became a cooperating witness, who is said to have maintained ties with Claudio Corbolotti, a prominent figure among Lazio supporters.

The wiretaps recount an attempt to mend the twinning between Curvas: “Now we’re tightly linked and you’ll see we’ll do things properly… whoever rows against us needs to get the fuck out of the way,” reads a conversation between the two.

For investigators, this language reflects the climate of alliances and threats that has characterized the ultras world for years.

The next steps by the Prosecutor’s Office

Checks are ongoing and new summonses are not ruled out. Investigators want to clarify the nature of the relationships between some players and the Curva leaders, to understand whether there are forms of conditioning or whether these are simply instances of heated confrontation.

At present, no Lazio-registered member is under investigation, but the inquiry once again opens the debate on the power of the Curvas and their impact on the management of football clubs.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.