Roma fans banned from Lecce away fixture; supporter groups protest discrimination

Lorenzo Pellegrini and the Roma Autistic Football Club visited Rebibbia prison on 10 October to mark World Mental Health Day, playing a friendly match against a team representing the institution. The initiative brought together Roma's special-needs squad and the prison's inmates in an event centred on sport as a vehicle for inclusion and connection across barriers. Pellegrini, Roma's captain, reflected on the experience afterwards: "It was truly a very special day here for all of us today, both for the Roma Special boys and for the Rebibbia boys, and for me as well. It was a day full of sport, full of love linked certainly to Roma, which through these events always shows its attention and love for all the people who follow it." The visit formed part of Roma's broader social initiatives programme, which focuses on promoting inclusion and raising awareness of mental health and psychological wellbeing. Players involved in the friendly also shared their reflections on the day. One recalled: "After finding out that Pellegrini would be coming I didn't sleep for hours last night." The event concluded with remarks from Maria Donata Iannantuono, director of Rebibbia Prison, and Lucia Bernabè, Roma's head of institutional relations.

AS Roma's new stadium project at Pietralata is moving closer to the operational phase, with construction now targeted to begin in 2027. The plan has progressed through administrative phases, and Sport Minister Andrea Abodi provided an update on the development. Abodi outlined the current status of the project: "We are very advanced. The decisive service conference has closed its process, the Pauc has been approved. Now we are moving toward the drafting of the final and executive project and then there will be a tender." The next steps involve completing the detailed project specifications before moving to the bidding stage for construction contracts.

The renovated Roma Club Testaccio opened its doors on 9 October following an extensive refurbishment, drawing hundreds of supporters across generations to celebrate the reopening of one of the most historically significant gathering points in the Roma fan community. The event in the Testaccio district was enhanced by the presence of three major figures from the 1983 Scudetto-winning team: Sebino Nela, Ubaldo Righetti and Odoacre Chierico. Their attendance reconnected the club's history, allowing those present to share anecdotes and memories tied to past triumphs and the passion for the giallorossi colours. Founded fifty-seven years ago, the association serves as a fundamental repository for memorabilia, photographs and testimonies of Rome's sporting tradition. Local politicians, entertainment figures and broadcasters from TeleRadioStereo also attended the celebration. The refurbished premises will now enable members and families from the neighbourhood to gather in a suitable space to watch Roma matches and pass on the values of fandom to younger generations.