Lazio sit top of Serie A amid fierce fan boycott against owner Claudio Lotito
Gennaro Gattuso has delivered plenty of fiery and memorable post-match interviews over his coaching career, but on Saturday night at the Stadio Olimpico, his tone was striking for its quiet melancholy. Following a 2-2 draw with AC Milan in which his side surrendered a two-goal advantage, Gattuso reflected on the eerie, hollow atmosphere inside their home stadium.
“Football without fans is shit,” Gattuso said with a soft Calabrian accent. “What do you think? I’d say it’s better to stay home. Better to go for a walk with the dogs.”
Empty Stands Despite Table-Topping Form
The result against Milan kept Lazio at the summit of Serie A with 10 points from their opening four matches. For a club that endured a turbulent summer—losing several key starters and starting Gattuso's tenure with a Coppa Italia defeat to Serie B opposition—the early league campaign has vastly outperformed expectations.
Yet the Biancocelesti are playing in front of vast banks of empty seats. Season ticket sales plummeted from nearly 30,000 last season to fewer than 4,500. While last year’s home clash against Milan attracted 50,000 spectators, Saturday’s encounter drew less than half that figure, creating an environment where the travelling Milan supporters formed the vocal majority.
Fan Protest Targets Long-Serving Owner Claudio Lotito
The desertion of the Stadio Olimpico is not a reflection of indifference toward the squad or Gattuso, but a concerted protest against club owner Claudio Lotito. Prior to kickoff, hundreds of supporters gathered at the Formello training complex to escort the team bus on mopeds to the Ponte Milvio bridge near the stadium, before dispersing to watch the match in pubs or at home.
Supporter dissatisfaction with Lotito stretches back across his two-decade tenure. An online petition signed by over 45,000 fans earlier this year condemned the club's lack of silverware and ambition in the transfer market. Frustrations have also been compounded by Lotito's political commitments as an Italian senator and his acquisition of other lower-league clubs, including fourth-tier Reggina this summer after previously owning Salernitana.
Financial constraints also forced Lazio into a summer of restructuring following a transfer embargo linked to liquidity requirements. Key contributors including Taty Castellanos, Mattéo Guendouzi, Mario Gila, Alessio Romagnoli, and Ivan Provedel all departed over the course of the year.
New Signings Deliver as Gattuso Praises Player Spirit
Despite the restrictions, Lazio conducted sharp business once the transfer ban lifted. Centre-back Danilho Doekhi arrived on a free transfer from Union Berlin, while Albert Gudmundsson and midfielder Davide Frattesi were secured on loan from Fiorentina and Inter Milan respectively. Frattesi, who joined for an initial €5m fee with a €10m option to buy, scored the winning goals in his first three appearances against Bologna, Genoa, and Udinese.
Against Milan, Lazio's early dominance was driven by Mattia Zaccagni on the left flank. Zaccagni set up Matteo Cancellieri for a 10th-minute opener before teeing up Tijjani Noslin to double the lead. However, Milan responded after the interval as half-time substitute Diego Moreira struck twice to secure a 2-2 draw.
“Maybe with our fans here we would have managed to hold out,” Zaccagni admitted afterwards. “But the draw is a fair result in the end.”
Gattuso voiced his understanding of the supporters' demonstrations while commending their affection for the team. “I don’t think anyone is happy with this situation,” Gattuso said. “Everyone wants to come to the stadium, to have 50,000 people, 55,000 people. I think those fans came because they recognise what the players are giving them. The fact of not giving up. The fact they are wearing the shirt with pride. It’s not football without the fans.”