Serie A’s 37th round has been thrown into disarray, with several pivotal matches, including the highly anticipated Roma-Lazio derby, along with Como-Parma, Genoa-Milan, Juventus-Fiorentina, and Pisa-Napoli, all scheduled to commence at 11:00 AM UK time (12:00 PM CEST) this Sunday.
This decision comes after days of deadlock and a failed emergency appeal to the TAR tribunal, culminating in a crisis summit between local authorities and Lega Serie A officials. The uncertainty had left ten teams without confirmed match times for Week 37.
Serie A Navigates Scheduling Chaos
The necessity for simultaneous kick-offs in the final two rounds of the season is paramount to ensure sporting fairness, especially when objectives like Champions League qualification are at stake, preventing teams from gaining an advantage by knowing other results.
With the race for European spots intensely contested, the simultaneous start for Roma-Lazio, Como-Parma, Genoa-Milan, Juventus-Fiorentina, and Pisa-Napoli became a requirement.
The primary challenge stemmed from the Roma vs. Lazio fixture, slated for the Stadio Olimpico, which shares its vicinity with the Foro Italico. The Italian Open tennis tournament’s men’s singles final was scheduled for Sunday at 4:00 PM UK time (5:00 PM CEST) at the same location. The potential influx of thousands of sports fans into the same area was deemed a safety risk by local authorities.
Consequently, the Prefect intervened, initially ordering the football match to be postponed to Monday at 7:45 PM UK time (8:45 PM CEST). However, Lega Serie A maintained its stance on a Sunday kick-off at 11:30 AM UK time (12:30 PM CEST). After negotiations with the Prefect proved unsuccessful, an appeal was lodged with the TAR tribunal.
The situation was ultimately returned to the local authorities, who convened an emergency meeting to broker a resolution among the involved parties.
Club reactions were varied. Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri expressed strong opposition, stating he would not attend the match and suggesting President Claudio Lotito should withdraw the squad if forced to play on Sunday at midday. In contrast, Roma supported their fans’ calls for the match to proceed on Sunday.
Further complicating matters, a public transport strike was scheduled for Monday, presenting additional logistical hurdles if the match had been moved to the following day.
