Last Game

Cagliari 1 - 0 Lazio

Sunday, 19 May 2013, 19:45

Serie A

Lotito: Appeal a waste of time

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has described his club's appeal of a UEFA stadium ban as a "waste of time" after it was rejected on Monday.

Last Updated: 11/03/13 at 20:44 Post Comment

Claudio Lotito: Believes Lazio wasted their time with appeal

Claudio Lotito: Believes Lazio wasted their time with appeal

UEFA last month ordered the Italians to play their next two home European matches behind closed doors, starting with Thursday's Europa League last-16 match against Stuttgart, after the club was charged over the setting-off of fireworks, racist behaviour and insufficient organisation during their last-32 match against Borussia Monchengladbach.

The club were also fined 40,000 euros (£35,000).

Lazio's appeal was rejected by UEFA's Appeals Body today, and Lotito said he was not surprised.

"It was a waste of time," he said in a statement on the club's website. "Everything we did to explain ourselves did nothing. The motivations we still do not know...

"Nothing has been served by coming here. There have been four days spent on the appeal, plus expenses, but it is the story of a death foretold."

It is not the first time Lazio fans have fallen foul of European football's governing body, with the club having previously been punished for racism offences in matches against Tottenham and Slovenian side Maribor.

Fenerbahce will also have to play their next home European match in an empty stadium after their appeal of a charge of throwing fireworks in their recent Europa League clash against BATE Borisov was also rejected.

However, the Appeals Body partially accepted Cesar Navas' appeal against the red card he was shown during Rubin Kazan's last-32 second leg against Atletico Madrid, a match the Russians lost 1-0 only to knock out the holders 2-1 on aggregate.

Navas was dismissed for a late lunge on Falcao, but the partial success of his appeal means his ban is now for two games, rather than three, and he will complete it by sitting out the second leg of their tie with Levante on Thursday.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

T

he day Tonys hat goes missing for some bantz will be different story altogether..

TheBrestEver
Stoke probe 'banter gone wild'

I

m starting to think Roman may never actually be happy at the top level. If he wants all conquering fancy football I wonder if he'd be better off buying a lower division side then paying outlandish salaries to attract high caliber players too good for the division.

john matrix
The Most Unsatisfying European Victory...

R

afa has to be favourite for the Everton job now, surely :) He'll realise his ambition to live and work on Merseyside again, get the best out of whoever plays for them, maybe win some cups and be thoroughly loathed by the toffee fans. What's not to like? Go ead, Ken, gimajob!

captbusby
Benitez basks in final glory

Footer 365

Alan Pardew confident he will still be Newcastle manager next season

Alan Pardew is 'pretty confident' he will stay as Newcastle manager after ending the season with a defeat by Arsenal.

Michael Owen had mixed emotions after his final appearance for Stoke

Retiring Stoke striker Michael Owen admitted he had mixed emotions after his final appearance for the club.

Premier League: Paul Lambert says 'something is happening' at Aston Villa

Paul Lambert refused to answer questions about the future of Darren Bent following Aston Villa's 2-2 draw at Wigan.

Mail Box

James Collins Is Only 29. Tough Paper Round

He is one of a number of solid shouts for players that look old before their time. We also have the final words on lovely D-Beck and a rejection of end of season playoffs...

Without Posh, Becks Could Have Been Scholes

That's one opinion, but others give their thanks to the man. We also have ideas for a relegation playoff, happy memories of the season and a defence of Liverpool's campaign...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved