ROME, Aug 22: Italian police along with the country’s Football Association (FA) have identified the SS Lazio ultras who recently called to ban women from a “sacred” section of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Ahead of the team’s Serie A game against Napoli on Saturday, die-hard supporters handed out pamphlets warning "women, wives and girlfriends" to stay away from the first 10 rows of the stadium’s Curva Nord.
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"We have always experienced the first rows as trenches. Women, wives, and girlfriends are not allowed inside, so we ask them to sit from the tenth row back," the flyer read causing a public outcry in Italy.
"Those who choose the stadium as an alternative to a carefree, romantic day at the (park), should sit elsewhere."
Italian police said on Monday they had identified the first ultras who distributed the provocative leaflets before Saturday’s game, adding that they had opened an investigation into the case which was classified as “sexual discrimination”.
Lazio and Italy women's national team striker Carolina Morace called the incident "unjustifiable" expressing hope that the fans responsible would be banned from attending games.
"We are (back) to the Middle Ages," Morace said. "I hope these people will be banned from the stadium".
