Claudio Lotito needed to speak. The owner and president of Lazio Rome was anything but happy with the refereeing performance in his team’s 0-1 league defeat against Italian top club AC Milan. “We were humiliated,” said the 66-year-old after the botched dress rehearsal before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Bayern Munich.
“The team bears no responsibility for this defeat. In sport you have to win based on your performance. There is a limit beyond which one must not go, and today all limits have been crossed,” Lotito continued. The club boss, who also sits as a senator in the Italian parliament, was particularly angry when his team was sent off three times in the second half of the game. Luca Pellegrini (57th minute), Adam Marusic (90th+4) and Matteo Guendouzi (90th+6) were all dropped and ensured Lazio had to finish the game with just eight players.
Lotito then criticized the refereeing in Serie A in general. “This has been going on for some time,” he said, calling for changes: “Either the system is able to correct itself with complete autonomy or we have to turn to a third authority. The club will be involved in the relevant committees.”
Published/Updated: , Roland Zorn, Freiburg Published/Updated: Recommendations: 10 Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 4
After the surprising victory in the first leg, Lazio goes into the round of 16 second leg of the premier class on Tuesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video) in Munich with a 1-0 lead. In the domestic league, however, things are not going well for the team led by former Dortmund player Ciro Immobile this season. Lazio is currently only ninth in Serie A and is in danger of missing out on international business.
