Coppa Italia Quarter-Final Loss to Lazio, as Bitter Rival Supporters Launching Flares at Each Other
- 4 months ago
Lazio and Roma fans were involved in violent clashes ahead of their Coppa Italia quarter-final on Wednesday night before the trouble continued throughout the match.
The arch-rivals faced off at the Stadio Olimpico, with Lazio ultimately winning 1-0 after a badly-tempered game that saw three players sent off.
However, trouble broke out before the match got underway with supporters of both sides throwing flares and fireworks at each other.
In footage captured on social media, the missiles could be seen being launched by both sets of fans inside the stadium before they were thrown back, with police forced to intervene.
Supporters could also be heard directing chants towards each other, with multiple loud bangs going off as the aforementioned fireworks exploded.
Roma and Lazio flags were held up and waved during the clashes, but the players continued to warm up on the pitch while the disturbances were going on.
The drama didn't stop after kick off however, with Mattia Zaccagni scoring the only goal of the game for Lazio after a controversial penalty which left Roma boss Jose Mourinho fuming.
When Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove was substituted in the 76th minute, he was targeted by Lazio fans, with one beer bottle hitting the 21-year-old on the back of the head.
Pedro was then sent off in injury time after picking up two yellow cards for Lazio before Roma's Sardar Azmoun received a straight red for slapping Nicolo Rovella on the back of the head.
His team-mate Gianluca Mancini was sent off for insulting referee Daniele Orsato following the final whistle, while Mourinho also received his marching orders for the second match in a row.
Police were forced to intervene again at full-time as a Lazio fan attempted to taunt the Roma supporters.
Speaking ahead of the clash - dubbed the Derby della Capitale - former West Ham and current Lazio star Felipe Anderson outlined how the players felt.
He told Lazio Style Radio: 'The derby is always a match we have always been very passionate about, we knew there was this possibility of facing Roma in Coppa Italia.
'Every footballer likes to take part in it, it’s a match full of intensity and tension. We are used to playing it. It will be difficult. We should play with our hearts and try to win.'
Lazio will take on either Juventus or Frosinone in a two-legged semi-final in April, with those two sides facing off on Thursday.
The arch-rivals faced off at the Stadio Olimpico, with Lazio ultimately winning 1-0 after a badly-tempered game that saw three players sent off.
However, trouble broke out before the match got underway with supporters of both sides throwing flares and fireworks at each other.
In footage captured on social media, the missiles could be seen being launched by both sets of fans inside the stadium before they were thrown back, with police forced to intervene.
Supporters could also be heard directing chants towards each other, with multiple loud bangs going off as the aforementioned fireworks exploded.
Roma and Lazio flags were held up and waved during the clashes, but the players continued to warm up on the pitch while the disturbances were going on.
The drama didn't stop after kick off however, with Mattia Zaccagni scoring the only goal of the game for Lazio after a controversial penalty which left Roma boss Jose Mourinho fuming.
When Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove was substituted in the 76th minute, he was targeted by Lazio fans, with one beer bottle hitting the 21-year-old on the back of the head.
Pedro was then sent off in injury time after picking up two yellow cards for Lazio before Roma's Sardar Azmoun received a straight red for slapping Nicolo Rovella on the back of the head.
His team-mate Gianluca Mancini was sent off for insulting referee Daniele Orsato following the final whistle, while Mourinho also received his marching orders for the second match in a row.
Police were forced to intervene again at full-time as a Lazio fan attempted to taunt the Roma supporters.
Speaking ahead of the clash - dubbed the Derby della Capitale - former West Ham and current Lazio star Felipe Anderson outlined how the players felt.
He told Lazio Style Radio: 'The derby is always a match we have always been very passionate about, we knew there was this possibility of facing Roma in Coppa Italia.
'Every footballer likes to take part in it, it’s a match full of intensity and tension. We are used to playing it. It will be difficult. We should play with our hearts and try to win.'
Lazio will take on either Juventus or Frosinone in a two-legged semi-final in April, with those two sides facing off on Thursday.