Ezio Simonelli, president of Lega Serie A, has defended the scheduling of the Derby della Capitale alongside the Rome tennis championship final, dismissing widespread criticism as overblown. The derby was moved to Monday at 20:45 to accommodate the tennis final, which was scheduled for 17:00 on the same day. Simonelli told Corriere della Sera that there was no programming error and that the two events coexisted without incident.
The scheduling sparked controversy that led to a legal challenge filed with the regional administrative court (TAR). A local prefect had initially ordered the derby's late postponement, which would have required 300,000 fans to attend on a weekday rather than a weekend. Simonelli argued this would have caused sporting, social, and economic damage. He stated: "With the provision that would have shifted the derby to Monday at 20:45 and, for the principle of simultaneity, also delayed the other four matches involving Champions League contenders, it would have forced 300,000 fans to follow the matches on a weekday: there would have been sporting, social and economic damage." The Lega ultimately prevailed in its legal challenge, and both events proceeded without incident.
Simonelli warned against future "excesses of caution" from local authorities, calling the controversy "much ado about nothing" and urging prefects and police chiefs to leave calendar organization to the league, though acknowledging public order concerns take priority.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Il presidente della Lega Serie A: "Non c'è stato da parte nostra un errore di programmazione perché i due eventi hanno serenamente convissuto. Noi dobbiamo tutelare le esigenze dei tifosi" Redazione 19 maggio - 09:08 Mancio-Man, la nuova canzone di Scuallero per il derby fa impazzire i tifosi Il…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
