Claudio Lotito was unsure what Lazio fans wanted following their recent ticket price protest, highlighting the low attendance regardless of cost.
The Biancocelesti ultras were infuriated after discovering that the ticket prices for the Roman club’s recent Serie A clash against Milan started at €40, something they considered egregious. A protest was called and the stadium was noticeably empty for the match, allowing the travelling Rossoneri fans to dominate.
Speaking to Lazio Style Radio (via TuttoMercatoWeb), Lotito first discussed his plans for his 65th birthday.
It will be a day like any other, this evening I have an institutional dinner at the League, I have some things to do.
It’s a good thing that there is someone who loves me, because usually… There is a hard core that still supports my work.
The Lazio president then looked back at this Serie A campaign and the team’s performances across the season.
This is an exciting season, we should all be happy, there’s nothing obvious either at the top or at the bottom of the table, it’s all still open.
Lazio has always been at the top of the table, between fourth, fifth and sixth place. We’ve always participated in European competitions so I don’t understand this hostile attitude that makes no sense.
Finally, Lotito discussed the controversial topic of ticket prices and how the fans use him as a punching bag.
It’s not a problem with the price of tickets, I understand the economic crisis, but I don’t even know if we gave all the tickets away for free if there would be a full house. I’ve done the most fan-friendly campaigns but I don’t think the stadium is always full.
In the last game against Sampdoria 3,000 tickets were free, the rest were €10-20, and the attendance was still around 30,000. The problem is that we have a limited attendance compared to many other clubs.
The fans should be happy, Lazio is the only one that hasn’t changed ownership, see Roma, Milan and Inter. The stability is there, beyond all the nonsense that is written. Lazio has no problems of any kind.
The only positive thing is that I’m the fan’s punching bag, I’m pleased that at least they know where to vent their anger, I want to stress that my words are not controversial. I’d like to go back to twenty years ago when I took over Lazio, I was certainly better off.
Lotito and the Lazio fans have often come to blows over the years, with the president quickly losing the support of the club’s ultras. He has also come under fire for inadequate spending in the transfer market, something which clearly concerns coach Maurizio Sarri ahead of the summer.
