Heated row over empty seats: Lazio fights a boycott

Heated row over the empty stands in Rome: Gennaro Gattuso watched a 2:2 draw against AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday and compared the atmosphere to the Covid pandemic. Only about 10 000 spectators filled the stadium, the majority behind the guests.

Fans boycott in protest

In the huge Stadio Olimpico only about 10 000 fans watched on Saturday, while the away block with 5 500 tickets sold was completely full. In the previous season's round, the same duel had attracted around 50 000 spectators. The decline results from the escalating row between the Lazio tifosi and club chief Claudio Lotito, who have been calling for a general boycott for months.

Last season Lazio sold around 30 000 season tickets, this season only about 4 000. Additionally, the supporters avoid the official fan shop and other facilities controlled by Lotito. They accuse the owner of investing too little money in the squad and giving the club insufficient attention.

The dissatisfaction is fueled by sporting stagnation: in the past three years Lazio finished in seventh, seventh and ninth place. The last title was the Coppa Italia win in 2019, before the pandemic. The fans criticize that Lotito supports the club financially too little.

Claudio Lotito, owner of Lazio since 2004, also owns Salernitana, which he took from the fourth tier to Serie A, and since this summer Reggina, also a fourth‑tier project. His past is marked by legal disputes: in 2006 he was suspended for two years in connection with the Italian betting scandal, in 2009 convicted for market manipulation, and during the pandemic punished for failing to comply with infection measures.

In recent months Lazio sold key players such as Taty Castellanos, Matteo Guendouzi, Mario Gila, Alessio Romagnoli and Ivan Provedel, while costly signings were absent. Despite higher revenues from player transfers, the management, according to an official fan statement, did not make clear investments in the squad.

The dissatisfaction increased with the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso as head coach, who had previously failed with the Italian national team in World Cup qualification. Gattuso said: “We miss our fans incredibly,” and added: “Football without fans is a plague. You might as well go for a walk with the dog.”

The fan base is also under criticism: repeated racist, fascist, misogynistic and antisemitic actions have been observed, such as in 2018 the demand to keep women out of the first ten rows, in 2021 a banner against Elseid Hysaj, and in 2024 during the Champions League away match against FC Bayern a Roman salute with the shout “Duce”.

Strong start to the season despite turbulence

Despite the turbulence, Lazio surprisingly delivered a strong start to the Serie A season: after three consecutive wins, the 2-2 draw against AC Milan followed.

The new signing Davide Frattesi, who was loaned from Inter Milan, was particularly effective and has already scored three goals.

The loan fee is five million euros, with a purchase option of ten million euros in the coming summer.