Rome derby ‘to move’ to Monday as Lazio governor attacks Serie A over absurd schedule and security concerns | OneFootball

The Rome derby, set for Sunday at 11:30 BST, may be shifted to Monday to avoid the Italian Open final near the Stadio Olimpico, drawing sharp criticism from Lazio Region governor Francesco Rocca.

Lega Serie A confirmed Round 37 dates on Monday. In the last two rounds, teams with the same target usually kick off together, and five clubs, Napoli, Juventus, Milan, Roma and Como, are chasing Champions League places.

TMW notes the derby would end only three hours before the tennis final, with more than 20,000 fans at the nearby Central Court, raising public order concerns. League chief executive Luigi De Siervo has said a 12:30 CET, 11:30 BST, Sunday start was the only viable option.

“De Siervo’s announcement leaves me perplexed, to put it mildly.” He told Corriere della Sera. “It is absurd to make a decision just a few days before a match, whose date had been known for a long time and at the same time as the men’s final of the International Tennis Championship. This choice, besides being short-sighted, completely disregards the assessments carried out by the public security authorities.”

“It would be wiser to play the Derby on Monday [May 18]. I find it unfair to demonise the fans when, in reality, there was simply a failure to plan ahead. I hope that Minister Piantedosi and Prefect Giannini will step in to correct the Lega Serie A’s superficial and selfish stance.”

A decision is expected today from the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Safety, meeting at the Prefecture in Rome. According to TMW, as things stand, the derby and Juventus-Fiorentina, Como-Parma, Genoa-Milan and Pisa-Napoli are highly likely to move to Monday at 18:00 CET, 17:00 BST.

Source: Football Italia