Lazio appeal for fans to stop racist chanting after Roma defender Antonio Rudiger is abused during 2-0 Coppa Italia win
LAZIO’S first win over rivals Roma in eight matches was overshadowed after the club were forced to stop their fans from chanting racist abuse.
The Rome club beat their rivals 2-0 to take control of the Coppa Italia semi-final – but the Stadio Olimpico announcer was forced to tell home fans that the game would be interrupted if they didn’t cease chanting racist abuse at Antonio Rudiger.
Getty Images Roma defender Antonio Rudiger was racially abused in his team’s Coppa Italia defeat to rivals Lazio[/caption]
EPA Lazio fans were told to cease chanting or the match would be interrupted[/caption]
Rudiger was repeatedly subjected to racist chanting from the home fans – but after the announcement the abuse stopped.
The Roma end of the stadium was left empty as supporters continued boycott in protest of partitions that have been installed in the notorious Curva Sud.
EPA A large number of Roma fans continued their boycott over partitions that have been installed at the Stadio Olimpico[/caption]
The partitions have been lowered once but Roma fans want them removed completely, with fans arguing that the barriers limit their view and divide groups who used to sit together.
Flags and banners have also been banned, while fans must now sit in allocated seats rather than anywhere they like.
EPA Ciro Immobile and Keita Balde celebrate the 2-0 win over Roma – Lazio’s first win over their rivals in eight matches[/caption]
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic gave Lazio the leadGetty ImagesImmobile netted the second for Simone Inzaghi’s teamGetty Images
Simone Inzaghi’s side grabbed a first-leg lead in the Coppa Italia thanks to goals from Juventus target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile.
Serbian midfielder Sergej fired home from close range thanks to fine work from Felipe Anderson in the first half.
And Italy international striker Immobile netted from close range late on to hand Simone Inzaghi’s side the advantage ahead of the second leg on April 5.
The challenges flew in at the Stadio Olimpico in a heated atmosphere that had the usual type of Rome derby build-up.
Mohamed Salah and his Roma team-mates struggled to get into the gameAP:Associated Press
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The stadium was less than half-full with fans from both sides boycotting games over the use of perspex barriers.
But there was no lack of noise and the Biancocelesti deservedly take a two-goal lead into the next leg.
Reports in Italy this morning suggest that Spanish-born midfielder Milinkovic-Savic was set to sign a new deal in the Italian capital but will now hold off until the summer due to interest from Juve.
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