The penultimate round of the 2025-26 Serie A season faces disruption as the Rome Prefect ordered the AS Roma-Lazio derby moved from Sunday afternoon to Monday night due to security and crowd control concerns linked to the Italian Open men's singles final at the Foro Italico, adjacent to Stadio Olimpico [1, 2, 3]. Five decisive Serie A matches were initially scheduled to kick off simultaneously on Sunday, May 17, at 12:30pm CET (6 a.m. ET), including the Rome derby [1, 2, 3, 4].
The conflict arose because the Italian Open final is set for Sunday afternoon near the stadium, creating logistical challenges. The Prefect's intervention aimed to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety around both events [1, 2, 3].
Lega Serie A proposed an alternative kick-off at 12:00pm CET with the tennis final delayed to 5:30pm CET. However, Roman authorities rejected this suggestion, leading the league to appeal the decision to the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio, with a ruling expected by May 15 or 16 [3, 1, 2].
Half the Serie A teams involved in the final two rounds face uncertainty due to the clash [1, 2, 3]. Napoli currently leads the fight for the three remaining Champions League spots behind already crowned champions Inter Milan, with 70 points. Juventus follows with 68, AC Milan and Roma each have 67, and Como holds 65 points [1, 2, 4]. Napoli can secure qualification with a win at relegated Pisa [1, 2, 3].
Serie A rules require matches to start simultaneously for fairness, making rescheduling sensitive. Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli acknowledged the players’ challenges, saying, "Bringing forward a match by half an hour is not a usual thing. We are asking the players and teams to make a sacrifice" [3].
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri sharply criticized the scheduling conflict, noting, "We could have thought of this overlap, but at the time, elements such as five matches simultaneously and Lazio’s Italian Cup final were missing". He declared, "I would not even turn up at the stadium if the derby was played on Sunday" [3].
Adding to the complications, fireworks smoke from the previous day’s tennis final caused visibility issues and disrupted play, highlighting the sensitivity of shared venue events [1, 2].
If the court upholds the prefect’s order, the derby will break Serie A’s simultaneous kick-off rule by taking place Monday night, creating a precedent for future fixture scheduling. The expected court decision on May 15 or 16 will finalise the match timing and shape the critical final matches of the Serie A season [1, 2, 3].
