The Italian football federation has opened an investigation to see whether Lazio have been following the health protocols and rules after three players tested positive for Covid-19 in UEFA’s tests earlier this week, despite featuring against Torino on the weekend.
The investigation was announced on the FIGC website yesterday.
The report details how star striker Ciro Immobile, veteran midfielder Lucas Leiva and starting goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha all tested positive for Covid this week, after undergoing UEFA’s tests ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash against Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg.
The same players were already blocked from playing against Belgian side Club Brugge last week for the same reason, but still featured against Torino in the 4-3 comeback win on the weekend.
Lazio have claimed that the trio have received false positive tests, with UEFA’s parameters stricter than those of the FIGC, but the Prosecutor’s Office has asked now for all necessary material to carry out their investigation.
The FIGC released a statement detailing the situation, saying:
“The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation against Lazio to ascertain possible violations of the Health Protocols aimed at containing the Covid-19 epidemic approved by the FIGC and validated by the Governmental Authority.
“Since the announcement of the positivity of some players that emerged last week, Prosecutor Giuseppe Chinè ordered two inspections to go the Biancocelesti Sports Centre in Formello, where the representatives who were asked to verify the compliance with the Health Protocols spoke to the President Claudio Lotito and the doctor Ivo Pulcini, as well as acquiring the reports of the tests carried out before the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge-Lazio and the Serie A match between Torino-Lazio.
“This morning, moreover, requests were officially made for Lazio’s test results for tomorrow’s Champions League match in St. Petersburg against Zenit.”