High-risk matches in Serie A will no longer take place in the evening. The decision comes after the Roman derby between Lazio and AS Roma got out of control on Sunday. According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the risks are lower for matches held during the day.
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Although the Derby della Capitale ended in a 1-1 draw between Lazio and AS Roma, the atmosphere in the city was anything but peaceful.
Sunday night saw chaos erupt on the streets of Rome, turning what should have been a celebration of football into a night of fear and destruction. The match, held at the Stadio Olimpico, had already been labeled a high-risk fixture due to the long-standing and intense rivalry between the two Roman clubs. But the violence that unfolded outside the stadium went far beyond the expected tensions.
Shortly after the final whistle, groups of rival supporters clashed in various areas surrounding the stadium. Police forces, deployed in large numbers in anticipation of potential trouble, attempted to intervene and separate the fans. However, they were met with aggression, resulting in violent confrontations. According to reports from the Italian authorities, 24 police officers sustained injuries some of them serious while trying to restore order. Several were struck by thrown objects, including bottles, flares, and pieces of street furniture.
The damage extended beyond physical harm to individuals. As fans rampaged through the streets, they overturned trash bins, set some of them on fire, and vandalized public property. The total estimated cost of the destruction caused during the evening reached 40,000 euros, with much of that attributed to the wreckage of municipal waste containers. Videos circulating on social media showed burning piles of trash and riot police attempting to push back hostile crowds.
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri did not hold back in his condemnation of the events. “This makes me sick. It is unacceptable that hooligans turn a day of sport into a scene of urban warfare,” he said in a strongly worded statement. “We cannot allow the city to be taken hostage by a minority of violent individuals who hide behind the name of football to justify barbaric behavior.” He also called for stronger preventative measures, including the possibility of holding high-risk matches earlier in the day, when the risk of alcohol-fueled violence is lower.
The mayor’s frustration is not without precedent. The previous Rome derby, held in January, also descended into chaos, with reports of vandalism, fighting, and even a car being set on fire. That match had already prompted discussions among city and national authorities about the growing issue of fan violence in Italian football. Sunday’s events have only intensified those concerns.
In response, the Italian Ministry of the Interior announced that high-risk Serie A matches, including future editions of the Derby della Capitale, will no longer be scheduled in the evening. Officials believe that holding such games earlier in the day will reduce the likelihood of incidents escalating, as there is generally less opportunity for fans to gather and consume alcohol for long periods before kickoff.
This change marks a significant shift in how Italian football authorities plan to approach fixture scheduling. It also reflects growing anxiety about the increasing frequency of violent outbreaks connected to the sport. While the majority of fans attend matches peacefully, a small and dangerous faction continues to tarnish the reputation of the game and endanger public safety.
The Derby della Capitale remains one of the most passionate and iconic rivalries in world football, but its intensity has once again spilled beyond the pitch. As authorities look to the future, the challenge lies in preserving the spirit of the rivalry while ensuring that it no longer becomes a catalyst for chaos in the streets of Rome.
Updated: 03:36, 17 Apr 2025
