Soccer-Lazio responds to “insult” reasons for Marseille travel ban

Lazio have said they “cannot accept a gratuitous insult” against “all of their fans” after the French Interior Ministry banned traveling supporters of the Italian club from attending the Europa League match against Olympique Marseille due to concerns about violence and fascist chants. The two clubs meet Thursday in the French city, two weeks after a 0-0 draw in Rome to which Marseille fans were not allowed to go.

Monday, the French Ministry of the Interior banned “anyone claiming to be Lazio or behaving as such” to go to the town of Marseille. He cited “the violent behavior of some supporters on a recurring basis in stadiums and in city centers”, as well as “the repeated interpretation of fascist chants and Nazi salutes” as justification.

Lazio said in a statement the move to bar fans from traveling was “no surprise” after Marseille supporters were not allowed to travel to Italy, but have responded strongly to the comments. French ministry. “What is astonishing is the mode of application of the decree at the national level and its unjustifiable motivations”, we can read on the site of the Italian club.

“Lazio cannot accept a gratuitous insult to all of their fans and to the club itself, which has always fought against violence and all kinds of discrimination inside and outside the stadium.” Some Lazio supporters have already been punished by UEFA’s European governing body for fascist salutes and racist chants, especially after a Europa League match against Rennes in October 2019.

There was violence in the Marseille stadium during a game against Turkish team Galatasaray on September 30, when play was suspended for around eight minutes after projectiles were thrown by both groups of supporters. and that the police have been deployed to restore order. “We have seen that violence in the stadiums is unfortunately a widespread and worrying phenomenon, starting with what happened recently at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille,” the Lazio statement continued.

“We are waiting for a clarification from the French authorities and a clear position from our own diplomatic service towards expressions which should outrage all Italians, whatever team they support.”

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