Sports
Lazio Receives One-Match Stand Closure For Monkey Chants At Lukaku
Lazio has been penalized with a one-match stand closure following instances of supporters directing monkey chants at Romelu Lukaku during their midweek Italian Cup victory over Roma, as confirmed by Serie A on Friday.
The league stated that three sections of the Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio’s hardcore fans are located, will be closed during the upcoming league fixture against Napoli on January 28.
Lazio has been punished for “boorish, insulting and racially discriminatory monkey chanting” directed at Roma forward Lukaku from the Curva Nord and two adjacent sections “whenever he was in possession of the football“.
The statement continued that four Italian Football Federation observers clearly heard the racist abuse at the match and that they came from “90 percent of the 16,000 fans in those areas of the ground”.
Lazio boasts a significant number of right-leaning fans in a nation where fascist organizations are prevalent, a phenomenon not exclusive to the club, as Roma’s hardcore supporters also share a notable history of far-right affiliations.
The recent events on Wednesday represent the most recent occurrences in a series of incidents involving Lazio. The club had previously received a one-match stadium closure in April of the previous year due to instances of anti-Semitic and racist chants during another derby clash with Roma.
In January of last year, Lazio’s fans had a profound impact on France international Samuel Umtiti, reducing him to tears during a match against Lecce.
It’s not the first time fans in Italy have targeted Lukaku, as he was racially abused by Juventus fans last season and monkey chanted at by Cagliari supporters in 2019 while still at Inter Milan.
The incident at Cagliari, which authorities left unpunished, was succeeded by Inter’s hardcore fans penning an open letter to Lukaku, asserting that monkey chants shouldn’t be deemed racist.
Furthermore, Lazio faced a 50,000 euros fine for their supporters breaching a security cordon, breaking through to the rival fans’ section, and launching various items, including “beer and water bottles, flares, fireworks, and firecrackers,” at the Roma fans. In response, Roma’s fans incurred a 15,000 euro fine for retaliating in a similar manner.
The home supporters added to the chaos by hurling flares and bottles onto the pitch during the match, with Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove getting struck on the neck by a full beer after being substituted in the second half.
The Rome derby, renowned for its intensity, witnessed several skirmishes and police charges before Wednesday’s match. Post-game, Lazio fans raided a pub popular among Roma supporters near the stadium, resulting in two individuals being stabbed amid the chaos.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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