Lotito Extends Olive Branch, Lazio Fan Groups Respond: ”It’s Too Late Now” | OneFootball

Dear Lazio supporters, I am writing directly to you. To those who live Lazio every day. To those who follow the club at the stadium, on television, away from home, in Lazio Clubs, within families, neighbourhoods, memories and hopes. I am writing to those who celebrate, those who suffer, those who criticise, those who demand, those who get angry. I am also writing to those who today feel distant, disappointed or bitter. I have always believed that Lazio must remain the master of its own destiny. This has been, is and will remain a fundamental principle. Lazio must compete, grow and aspire to victory. But it must do so without losing dignity, autonomy, balance and its future. The first duty of anyone running a club is not to chase a day’s applause. It is to ensure that the club remains solid, independent and respected tomorrow as well. Anyone who makes decisions can make mistakes. Anyone who runs a club as important as Lazio knows they will be exposed, judged and criticised. I do not shy away from that. But I ask that judgments take into account the full picture, not only the most emotional or convenient part of the story. And within that picture, there is one issue I want to address clearly: the relationship with supporters must improve significantly. I say this without ambiguity. Lazio must find new, serious and responsible ways of listening to, engaging with and involving its people. I also want to say something personal. It may have happened that, on some occasions, in a climate of great tension, hurt by harsh words, insults and constant attacks, I answered the phone impulsively, using a tone I would not have wanted to use and which may have been perceived as distance or closure. If that happened, I take responsibility for it. But let me be clear: there has never been, nor will there ever be, any lack of respect towards Lazio supporters. Respect for those who love these colours comes before everything else. Every supporter who dedicates time, money, miles travelled, passion and personal and family sacrifices to follow Lazio deserves not only respect, but gratitude. With respect for all of you, for your passion and for the history you represent, I believe the time has come to open a new chapter: more dialogue, more listening and more shared responsibility. Without manipulation. Without settling scores. Without dividing Lazio into good and bad camps.

IT’S TOO LATE NOW! We read with astonishment the letter sent by Mr. Lotito to Il Messaggero, a letter that adds nothing to these 22 years of failed management of our beloved Lazio. We could comment point by point and, once again, dismantle what has been written, but we choose not to, because everything we had to say was already put down in black and white in our previous statement — a statement that, even with this letter, has received no response. There is, however, one point we feel compelled to address. This is a letter deliberately addressed to the Lazio Clubs, as is specified several times, and that alone shows how little Mr. Lotito knows about Lazio’s supporters. Mr. Lotito does not realise that several Lazio Clubs — among the most representative and active ones — are also part of the organised supporters’ groups. He cannot know this simply because he does not understand this world and has never had any interest in understanding it. The purpose of this letter is to divide a people into “good” and “bad”, trying to win over one side at the expense of the other. Once again, he will not succeed. He finds us united, compact and standing together on a single front that has grown tired of this situation. There is one thing we feel we should clarify. The proposal to officially recognise the Lazio Clubs was ours, and it was put forward two years ago. We presented it with a very specific objective: to remove the barrier between the team and its supporters that this ownership has created; to bring players back to dinners with supporters; to allow our children to experience evenings with their heroes — experiences that Mr. Lotito completely erased after becoming President of S.S. Lazio. That proposal was rejected by the club. The person who wrote this letter knows that, and we are surprised he raised the issue when it had already been discussed and met with complete opposition from S.S. Lazio. Once again, we hear talk of the Academy, the media company, Nasdaq, a stadium that will supposedly arrive, financial sustainability and plenty of other empty rhetoric. Yet once again, there is nothing concrete. There is talk of history, while forgetting that, for Mr. Lotito, that “damn history” is a burden rather than an asset to be proud of — something he has said and demonstrated dozens of times over these 22 years. We hear about opening a relationship with the supporters. Which supporters? The supporters whom Mr. Lotito has belittled, humiliated, insulted and reported to the authorities, leading to the arrest of some of them on false accusations, ruining the lives of many families? The supporters whom, according to him, are people who spend their time in the Curva Nord dealing drugs and managing prostitution? The supporters whom the club abandoned to themselves in Poland, Germany and on countless other away trips without any support from the club? The supporter who wanted to give his granddaughter a unique experience on the day commemorating her grandfather, only for Mr. Lotito to deny it? The supporters who were forbidden from displaying the word that should be present everywhere: freedom? Well, Mr. Lotito, the organised supporters’ groups have no use for your letter. We believe that, beyond arriving far too late, it does not even begin to address the demands of a fanbase that has grown tired of your leadership. Above all, it appears to be yet another smokescreen put in writing by someone who does not understand the determination and strength of the Lazio people. We therefore firmly reiterate what was already stated in our previous communiqué, which everyone remains free to support or not support: We will not purchase season tickets and will not attend home matches in either Serie A or the Coppa Italia. We will attend all away matches. We will attend the derby both home and away. We will collectively cancel and refuse to renew subscriptions to all paid platforms broadcasting Lazio matches. We will boycott all businesses, sponsors and partners that support this presidency. We will not vote for Forza Italia or for candidates supported by Mr. Lotito, even if they are Lazio supporters themselves. IF LAZIALI STAND UNITED, THEY WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! FORZA LAZIO, FORZA LAZIALI!

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