Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Wednesday phoned his Amsterdam counterpart Femke Halsema to tell her that Lazio fans are not anti-semtici after she banned them from travelling to December 12’s Europa League tie against Ajax after an alleged ‘pogrom’ against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the Dutch city on November 7, the Campidoglio said in a statement.
“While understanding the fears following the recent violence and the climate created in Amsterdam, after the match on November 7 – the note continues – the mayor wanted to reassure Halsema that the vast majority of Lazio fans have no connection with anti-Semitic, racist and violent positions and that the actions of a small minority of fans cannot allow any generalization.
“Gualtieri also specified to the mayor that the club led by president (Claudio) Lotito is a healthy club and has always been strongly committed to marginalizing these extremist fringes that damage the image of the team and the city, a phenomenon unfortunately present in many football fan groups.
“The mayor, while respecting Halsema’s decision, also said he was available for any form of collaboration – concludes the Campidoglio – if there were a willingness to review the decision taken also to protect the thousands of Lazio fans who have already spent money to organize the trip. The meeting between the two mayors took place in a cordial and friendly tone”.
