Mauro Baldissoni, director general of AS Roma, has said that the Italian Serie A football club could depart the Stadio Olimpico earlier than anticipated.
The club is due to move in to its new Stadio della Roma stadium in 2019, which would signal the end of a lengthy stay at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma moved into the facility in 1953 and has played all home matches at the site since, except for a short break between 1989 and 1990 due to renovation work.
However, Roma’s immediate future at its current home has come under question after recent issues regarding security and fan safety. Such issues have included fans being fined for not sitting in their allocated seats, and Baldissoni told Roma Radio that if these problems are not resolved, there is a possibility that the team could move out early.
“The fines for changing places? We are amazed, we want explanations,” Baldissoni said. “They [the forces] told us that emergency escape routes were being blocked, but we didn’t notice that.
“We are concerned about the problem that has arisen, we support the free use of space in the stadium for the fans who behave well and who do not put at risk the lives of others.
“But they must be cooperative and accept the rules. Those who behave well can show their passion. We will put more people in the Curve so that there are no more problems.”
Baldissoni also hit out at the use of barriers in the stands, saying that fans should not be treated like “criminals”.
“The fans are not criminals, they are fans and they should be treated that way,” he said. “On this, the security forces agree that in order to return to normal we want to get rid of the barriers. In the meantime, however, it can’t happen. In the first two matches of this season, nothing has happened.
“The fans are an integral part of the show, I’ve said it many times. The new stadium will give a lift to the Giallorosso support.
“Now we are working at the Olimpico, which is too big to fill in normal conditions. If we see there will be difficulties in using the stadium as in recent months, if there is a reduction in spectators, we will consider different stadiums that will agree to maximise the effect of the fans.
“It is not easy to come to the stadium, but it is necessary to feed the passion that is Roma.”
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