A group of approximately 60 Lazio supporters were intercepted by German authorities after trying to bypass a police escort ahead of their Europa League match against Dynamo Kyiv. The incident took place late Tuesday, with the fans being detained and held until Wednesday. Upon inspection, police discovered knives, clubs, and other weapons in their possession.
While Lazio confirmed that the fans were banned from attending the match on Wednesday, they emphasized that no arrests were made. Dynamo Kyiv, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, is currently playing its home games in Hamburg, Germany.
Lazio supporters have a history of causing trouble, and the club has faced numerous penalties both within Serie A and European competitions. This latest incident underscores the club’s persistent struggle with fan behavior.
In a similar incident, a Lazio fan was arrested and fined for giving a Hitler salute during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich in March. This occurred after approximately 100 Lazio supporters sang fascist songs in the beer hall where Adolf Hitler founded the Nazi party.
Further back, in 2022-23, a fan wearing a shirt referencing Hitler was permanently banned from attending Lazio matches by the club. This decision came after images of the fan sporting a Lazio shirt emblazoned with the name “Hitlerson” and the number 88 — a numerical code for “Heil Hitler” — circulated on social media. Authorities then reviewed security camera footage from the Stadio Olimpico to confirm the incident.
Also in the 2022-23 season, Lazio was ordered to play a Serie A game with a portion of the Stadio Olimpico closed to spectators due to racist chants directed at opposing players by Lazio fans. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenge for Lazio to address the problematic behavior of a segment of its fanbase.
