A group of around 60 Lazio fans have been banned from attending Thursday’s Europa League fixture against Dynamo Kyiv after having weapons confiscated by German police.
Hamburg authorities stated a group of Italian supporters attempted to evade a police escort on Wednesday evening in the city’s central square, Rathausmarkt, and were subsequently stopped and searched by riot police.
Police say five knives, six meat pounders, two wooden slats, a club, a pipe wrench and a skewer were among the items discovered and confiscated.
In a club statement, Lazio confirmed a group of fans had been detained by police and banned from entering Volksparkstadion, the venue for Thursday’s fixture, but no arrests were made.
“In advance of the match, police officers checked a group of suspected Italian football fans yesterday evening and confiscated bladed and stabbing weapons as well as other dangerous objects,” a Hamburg police statement read.
“In order to prevent disruptions to public safety and order, all persons checked were taken into custody after the check was completed this morning. The men were also banned from staying in the Volksparkstadion and its immediate surroundings this evening.”
A Lazio statement added: “Lazio fans are invited to follow the information already provided by the club to reach the Hamburg stadium in safe conditions.”
Lazio have previously faced sanctions for crowd behaviour in Europe and Serie A. In 2023, they were issued with a suspended partial stadium ban after a section of their home support directed antisemitic chants towards Roma. A group of Lazio fans were also recorded singing fascist songs ahead of last season’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
Thursday’s fixture is being played in Hamburg due Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
(Tiziana FABI / AFP)
