Why Claudio Lotito Cannot Sell Lazio at This Stage

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The Laziali

·12 de março de 2026

Why Claudio Lotito Cannot Sell Lazio at This Stage

Lazio fan and journalist Simon Basten explains why the time isn’t ripe for Claudio Lotito to sell the Italian capital club.

Lazio Supporters Boycotting Home Fixtures

The increasingly unpopular patron is facing the biggest fan backlash of his 22-year reign at Formello. The club’s organized fan groups have decided to boycott the team’s home fixtures. Therefore, Maurizio Sarri’s men have played their last four home fixtures in a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico.

Vídeos OneFootball

Earlier this week, the supporters have announced their decision to return the stands for a one-off when the Biancocelesti host AC Milan on Sunday, before vacating their seats once more. The fan groups have vowed to continue their protest until Lotito agrees to sell the club to a new owner.

Simon Basten Explains Lotito vs Lazio Fans Standoff

In his interview with the BBC, Basten shed some light on the situation, explaining the fans’ perspective and the reasons behind their firm stance.

The Lazio fan needs to dream… and now at the moment, the Lazio fan is not dreaming Fans are boycotting and not coming to games, but never as bad as this particular moment, The fans believe that if they don’t go to the stadium, they will force Lotito out and he will be forced to sell the club. ‘Don’t go to the stadium, show the world that the fan is the boss and must be central to the project.’

Nevertheless, the Lazio expert admits that forcing an owner to sell a football club is always a tall order, particularly this one.

Changing the manager, changing a player, changing a media consultant in a club is easy because you can force that in some way or form. Presidency and sale of the club is a little bit more complex.

Claudio Lotito Practically Unable to Sell Lazio at The Moment

Basten suggests that a Lazio sale could also be intertwined with the club’s plans to renovate the Stadio Flaminio. He firmly believes that Lotito cannot walk away before acquiring the final approval from Rome’s city council, which would effectively move the project to the concrete phase.

This is not the moment to buy or sell because whoever wants to buy anyway has to wait for approval from the city council before putting in a bid. It’s a bit like trying to sell your house while you’re waiting to have the OK to build a swimming pool.

How The Lazio Debacle Will End?

Finally, Basten believes the two parties must try to find common ground and reach a truce, as it’s the only way out of this chaotic situation.

Lotito is not a tycoon, it’s not like he can put loads of money into the club, he can’t do that. Lotito is as flexible as an iron bar. You will have to come to terms in some way or form. There has to be some type of peace between the two because otherwise kids are not going to follow Lazio. They want to see things, they don’t want to see problems, they want be able to dream, and at the moment that’s not happening. If they don’t go see the stadium it’s not going to happen at all.