Now that Roma vs. Lazio has been scheduled for Sunday at midday local time, will Maurizio Sarri go through with his threat not to show up at the Stadio Olimpico?
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: General view outside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Parma at Stadio Olimpico on December 22, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The kick-off date and time had been up in the air since Monday, when the Lega Serie A announced that the five games involving teams in the race for Champions League places would all play simultaneously.
The time given was Sunday at 11.30 UK (12.30 CEST), but then the local authorities ordered it be moved to Monday at 19.45 UK (20.45 CEST) in the interests of public safety as it was too close to the final of the Italian Open men’s singles tennis tournament.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: General view inside the stadium prior to the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
Following four days of arguing, emergency appeals and summits, this evening they all finally agreed to kick off on Sunday at 11.00 UK (12.00 CEST).
It remains to be seen now whether Sarri will be there, because he had commented last night after the Coppa Italia Final loss to Inter that he would boycott the event.
Sarri was adamant he’d stay away
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Lazio, reacts during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“My feeling is that I’ll come on Monday, but if they want to play the derby at midday on a Sunday, I’m not coming. They can do it themselves,” Sarri told Sport Mediaset on Wednesday night.
“This is a series of errors made by the Lega Serie A, they organised the Turin Derby around the ATP tennis finals in Turin, then the Rome Derby when the Italian Open is on in Rome.
“These were their mistakes and I agree with the local authorities, so I hope we play on Monday. If I was President of Lazio, I wouldn’t even show up with the squad on Sunday. It makes no difference to us either way, we’ll lose points penalties, I wouldn’t go.
“They make a series of incredible errors, nobody holds their hands up and says sorry we made a mistake. I doubt I’d keep a job if I made three or four mistakes per day. They can’t pretend this is normal, there are five teams playing games that are worth €90m for their futures, you can’t make them play at midday. This is not football,” concluded Sarri.
While Roma released a statement confirming they were pushing to ensure the game would be played on Sunday, Lazio have been generally silent about the entire situation.
