Soccer: Lazio forced to play two home games with no fans
Club president calls racism penalty 'incredible, groundless'
27 February, 21:09
(ANSA) - Rome, February 27 - The Lazio soccer club said
Wednesday it has been forced to play its next two home games in
the Europa League behind closed doors after a reported act of
racism at a match last Thursday against Germany's Borussia
Moenchengladbach.Lazio club president Claudio Lotito denounced the penalty as "incredible" and said accusers had "invented facts". The penalty from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) comes after a match when Lazio fans reportedly gave a Nazi straight-armed salute.
The UEFA's disciplinary body, which has yet to make a statement, was slated to meet to discuss the matter Wednesday. Defenders of Lazio suggest it was merely a militaristic salute.
But Lazio fans are already under fire for previous racist incidents.
In one case, Lazio fans were accused of anti-Semitic abuse against Tottenham Hotspur supporters during a Europa League match in Rome last November.
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