Roma-Lazio derby: Stadio Olimpico expected to be predominantly giallorosso as Lazio fans boycott

A comprehensive security operation is being prepared for Sunday's Derby della Capitale, with more than 1,000 police officers deployed across Rome's northern districts. The match coincides with Lazio supporters planning a protest at Ponte Milvio against club owner Lotito and the ATP tennis finals at the Foro Italico, creating a complex public order challenge. Key areas including Ponte Milvio, Piazza Mancini, and the riverbank will be sealed off to prevent contact between the two sets of supporters. The security plan includes mounted police patrols at the Foro Italico, water cannons, drones, and a helicopter overhead. Local police will oversee traffic management across the northern sector throughout the day. Serie A has presented its own safety protocol, appointing a security coordinator for the Foro Italico area to liaise with law enforcement. The league has prepared an integrated plan to manage spectator flows during entry and exit using a large contingent of stewards. A public awareness campaign has been developed to encourage supporter responsibility. The coordination between police and league authorities reflects the sensitivity of managing multiple major events simultaneously in the same city area.

Roma has been authorized by authorities to sell tickets in the Tevere Nord sectors — normally a buffer zone — for the upcoming Derby della Capitale against Lazio. This decision comes after Lazio announced they will bring approximately 800 supporters to the Stadio Olimpico. The move will allow Roma to sell around 1,500 additional tickets in the north stand, providing a more balanced distribution of home support across the Tribuna Tevere. The authorization follows a significant drop in ticket availability for this derby. Roma's Curva Nord ultras announced a boycott several days earlier as part of an ongoing protest against Lazio president Lotito. This meant over 10,000 tickets in the north curve would remain unsold, representing a considerable financial loss for Roma's matchday revenue. By opening the normally restricted northern sectors to regular home supporters, the club aims to mitigate that economic impact while maintaining adequate crowd control given the reduced visiting support.

Fabio Maresca, the Naples-based referee, has been appointed to oversee the upcoming Roma–Lazio derby, marking his first time officiating the fixture. Maresca was selected ahead of rival candidate Massa in a decision made by Damiano Tommasi, head of the National Referees Commission. This assignment breaks a lengthy spell since Maresca last refereed Roma in February 2025. Across 19 career meetings with Roma, Maresca's record stands at eight wins, five draws, and six defeats for the Giallorossi. However, in their last nine encounters, Roma have won only three matches while losing six, though their most recent clash saw them defeat Monza 4–0. Di Bello will serve as VAR for the match, a role that carries historical significance for Roma fans. Di Bello was the VAR official in the previous Napoli–Roma encounter that saw a controversial incident involving Nicolò Zaniolo, when a potential penalty was not awarded. At the time, manager José Mourinho protested strongly, stating: "They take away Roma's right to play to win." The remainder of the refereeing team includes Perrotti and Peretti as assistant referees, Fabbri as fourth official, and Abisso as AVAR. The derby represents an important fixture for Roma, with all eyes on how Maresca's management unfolds given the historical context and recent performances.