cLaudio Lotito needed to talk. The owner and president of Lazio Rome He was not at all happy with the refereeing performance in his team's 1-0 league defeat against Italy's top club, AC Milan. “We were humiliated,” the 66-year-old coach said after the failed dress rehearsal before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Bayern Munich.
“The team has no responsibility for this defeat. In sports you have to win based on your performance. There is a limit that cannot be crossed and today all limits have been crossed,” Lotito continued. The club boss, who is also a senator in the Italian parliament, was especially angry when his team was sent off three times in the second half of the match. Luca Pellegrini (57th minute), Adam Marusic (90+4) and Matteo Guendouzi (90+6) were eliminated and forced Lazio to finish the match with only eight players.
Lotito then criticized refereeing in Serie A in general. “This has been happening for some time,” he stated, calling for changes: “Either the system is capable of correcting itself with complete autonomy or we have to resort to a third authority. The club will participate in the relevant committees.”
After the surprising victory in the first leg, Lazio heads into the second leg of the premier class round of 16 on Tuesday (9:00 p.m.) with a 1-0 lead. FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video) in Munich. In the national league, however, things are not going well this season for the team led by former Dortmund player Ciro Immobile. Lazio are currently only ninth in Serie A and risk missing out on international business.