Celtic fans look like being given the green light to complete their travel plans to Rome next month.
UEFA were scheduled to hear on Thursday details of the latest racism charge against Lazio following the Europa League tie with Rennes. The hearing was brought forward to Monday but the expected announcement today was delayed.
The racist abuse of England players in Bulgaria has put the issue in sharp focus for UEFA but from the tone of a Lazio statement tonight it seems that a full stadium closure has been avoided:
The decisions of the ‘Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’ of UEFA with reference to the behaviour of some supporters during the meeting between SS Lazio and Stade Rennais FC constitute a heavy penalization that seems to have taken into account the clear condemnation expressed promptly by the biancoceleste society against the hateful racist acts performed by a few irresponsible.
The sentence, at the same time, confirms the firm will of the SS Lazio to continue on the line of “zero tolerance” established by the President Claudio Lotito.
The company also reaffirms its intention to prosecute criminally and civilly those responsible for unacceptable events that cause not only serious damage to the image and heritage of Lazio but heavily penalize the overwhelming majority of a fan base that has always been foreign and contrary to excess racists of a small minority. The SS Lazio, however, on the basis of findings in the process of finding, reserves the right to appeal to UEFA decisions to reduce penalties that are largely paid to the most responsible and virtuous supporters.
Celtic have been given an allocation of 9,000 tickets for next months match and it seems that that factor has been influential in avoiding a complete stadium closure.
Matches in the group stage of the Europa League rarely attract more than 30,000 fans to the Stadio Olympico which renders any part closure as virtually worthless.