Totti awaits final approval to return to Roma in official capacity

The Derby della Capitale between AS Roma and SS Lazio will kick off at 12:30 on Sunday, according to an announcement by Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli. The fixture had faced scheduling uncertainty due to a potential clash with the Italian Open tennis finals at the Foro Italico, which raised the possibility of a Monday postponement. However, organizers have found a compromise by moving the match to an early afternoon slot. Simonelli explained the reasoning behind the decision, stating: "We will try to hold the derby in a way that there are no overlaps with the final of the Foro Italico. At the same time, you know that there are restrictions from public security, so by process of elimination we cannot hold it in the evening because it is forbidden, nor in the afternoon because it would clash with the finals of the Internationals. The only available time slot is 12:30 and I believe that will be the one we choose." He added that the derby deserves to be played on Sunday and requires simultaneous kick-off, as it falls on the penultimate matchday of the season. The early start represents a balance between Roma and Lazio's scheduling needs and public safety requirements during a busy sporting weekend in Rome.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former coach and current pundit, has criticized Claudio Ranieri over his recent departure from Roma, where Ranieri had served as senior advisor. Stramaccioni argued that Ranieri made damaging public statements at an inopportune moment, saying: "Not Gasperini versus Ranieri, but Ranieri said something that hurts Roma. Nobody should put themselves ahead of the club's interests." Stramaccioni emphasized that while he respects Ranieri, the timing and nature of his comments—particularly regarding his departure and the state of the squad—were mishandled and should have remained internal to Trigoria (Roma's training ground). Stramaccioni attributed the tensions partly to the absence of active ownership, noting that similar issues had affected other prominent figures at the club. He stated: "This city needs support and presence from executives and coaches: three important figures like Mourinho, De Rossi and Ranieri have all had problems." He highlighted that major decisions under Gian Piero Gasperini should align with the coach's vision, drawing a parallel to Atalanta's success. Stramaccioni suggested Roma now needs a director of sport who can function in harmony with both the technical project and the head coach.

Ezio Maria Simonelli, President of the Italian Football League (Lega Serie A), has announced the expected fixture date for the Derby della Capitale between AS Roma and SS Lazio. Speaking at the presentation of the 'Road to Zero' project, Simonelli outlined the scheduling constraints that led to the proposed time slot. The match is expected to take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. Simonelli explained the reasoning behind the decision, noting that evening fixtures are prohibited due to public security restrictions, while afternoon scheduling would clash with the final of the Internazionali tennis tournament (the Rome Masters). The 12:30 p.m. slot emerged as the only viable option. He stated: "We will try to play the derby in a way that there are no overlaps with the Foro Italico final. At the same time, you know there are restrictions from public security, so by process of elimination we cannot play it in the evening because it is forbidden, nor in the afternoon because it would clash with the Internazionali final. The only time remaining available is 12:30 p.m. and I believe that is what we will choose." Simonelli added that the derby merits a Sunday fixture and that simultaneous kick-off times will be required as it falls on the penultimate matchday of the season. Official confirmation of the date is pending.