ROME, Italy, Apr 30 – Italy’s sports minister has cast doubt on the resumption of Serie A leaving title-chasing Lazio fearing that history could repeat itself and deny them the Scudetto for the second time.

But with its president Claudio Lotito as the main driving force, the Roman club are determined that the Italian football league will resume despite the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

At stake, a Scudetto that Lazio see as being at their fingertips and the fear of reliving a nightmare going back 105 years.

Lazio missed out on the title the only previous time that football was suspended in Italy after the country’s entry into the First World War in May 1915.

Genoa were controversially awarded the title. Lazio still claim it should have been shared.

This season Lazio were second in Serie A, just one point behind Juventus when the championship was suspended on March 10.

The club are chasing a third league crown in their 120-year history after 2000 and 1974, the latter a season which had been threatened by a cholera epidemic.

No wonder Lazio are hell bent on resuming this season’s championship despite the coronavirus crisis which has killed over 27,000 in Italy.

Lotito insists it’s in the interests of football, to avoid “the irreparable damage” and risk of bankruptcy to clubs in all leagues.

“If we stop, it suits me. I’m in the Champions League and I’m saving four months’ salary,” the 62-year-old said ahead of Friday’s Lega Serie A emergency general assembly where the fate of the championship could be decided.

Simone Inzaghi’s side had been on an unbeaten run in the league going back to last September.

They beat Juventus twice in December by a 3-1 scoreline, including the Italian Super Cup final.

– ‘Expert virologist’ –

Whether the season resumes or not, the Romans are almost certain to go to the Champions League.

But they had hoped for more — the coveted title and to stand in the way of Juventus winning a ninth straight title.

Inter Milan are third, eight points behind Lazio with Bergamo side Atalanta 14 points adrift, with both teams having played a game less.

Lotito’s dogged determination has irritated, with Juventus counterpart Andrea Agnelli, reportedly commenting during a conversation between the two: “You’ve now become an expert virologist!”

Businessman Lotito, who owns two cleaning companies employed by Roman hospitals where patients of Covid-19 are treated, also stressed “the immense social importance of football”, adding that “the history of the Romans “was made of bread and games”.

When he is not lobbying in favour of a return to the pitch his closest collaborators are club spokesperson Arturo Diaconale and sports director Igli Tare.

“We must respect the dead and the fans but even if we are living in a horror film, the championship must resume. Cancelling the season would be unfair,” insisted Tare.

Diaconale hit out at “the hypocrisy of those who want to block the recovery,” while recalling the “old fear”, the trauma of the 1915 Scudetto.

Lotito however remains in favour of a play-off with Juventus should the season be stopped.

The club’s Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile said players felt frustrated and “discriminated against” by not being allowed to train while individual athletes could.

“I don’t want to get back out there because Lazio are second in the table and I’m the top scorer, but because I miss doing what I love and my job,” said Immobile.

“I am not trying to stir up trouble, I just ask for some clarity as a citizen of Italy. We just want to get back to doing our jobs.”

(Visited 6 times, 6 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

I will return u2018hungrieru2019 for the game -Atuka

rn rn Volleyballrn rn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn I deserve to be at Barca, says ’emergency signing’ Braithwaitern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Lazio cling to Serie A dream as 105-year-old nightmare loomsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn COVID-19 condemns Chinese football to endless pre-seasonrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn ‘How many have to die?’: Neville voices fears over Premier League plansrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Postponing Games will cost IOC ‘hundred million dollars’, says Bachrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn ‘It is very important to organise the Hungarian Grand Prix’rn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 18 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

I deserve to be at Barca, says ’emergency signing’ Braithwaite

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Lazio cling to Serie A dream as 105-year-old nightmare looms

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

COVID-19 condemns Chinese football to endless pre-season

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘How many have to die?’: Neville voices fears over Premier League plans

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Postponing Games will cost IOC ‘hundred million dollars’, says Bach

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

‘It is very important to organise the Hungarian Grand Prix’

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Derby thank Rooney after agreeing wage deferral

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Baby steps, boom times and Tiger: pro golf in China marks 25 years

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

EPL could be scrapped as Ligue 1 is effectively cancelled

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 28th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Bundesliga could resume in ‘mid to late May’, say sports ministers

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 28th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn I deserve to be at Barca, says ’emergency signing’ Braithwaitern rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Lazio cling to Serie A dream as 105-year-old nightmare loomsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn I will return u2018hungrieru2019 for the game -Atukarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Tennis Kenya rolls out COVID-19 food aidrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn TEAMtalk Mediarn United to trial safe standing at Old Traffordrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn I deserve to be at Barca, says ’emergency signing’ Braithwaitern rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Lazio cling to Serie A dream as 105-year-old nightmare loomsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 30th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn I will return u2018hungrieru2019 for the game -Atukarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Tennis Kenya rolls out COVID-19 food aidrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn TEAMtalk Mediarn United to trial safe standing at Old Traffordrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 29th Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */