Lazio demand Lega Serie A move Genoa game after death of Pope Francis | OneFootball

Lazio President Claudio Lotito has requested an urgent meeting with the FIGC, as he is refusing to play the rescheduled Serie A match against Genoa on Wednesday.

There were four games set to be played today, but they were called off when news broke that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88.

The Lega Serie A initially told clubs these matches would not be played this week, but changed their minds and announced that they would be moved to Wednesday April 23.

Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, Parma vs. Juventus and Torino vs. Udinese are all set to kick off at 17.30 UK time (16.30 GMT).

Lazio are refusing to play Genoa on April 23

The ball of Italian Serie A is pictured before the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on March 10, 2024. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

However, now Lazio President Lotito sent a message to the Lega Serie A, CONI and FIGC demanding an urgent meeting ‘to find an alternative and shared solution.’

The Aquile complain that the decision to reschedule for Wednesday was made “without consulting our club” and “does not take into account the institutional commitments” of the side.

Lazio warn they want to participate in paying tribute to Pope Francis in the Vatican, an event that will be in the Eternal City on Wednesday.

“The match would represent an inopportune imposition” that prevents them from participating “in an historically significant moment for the city of Rome and the Lazio community.”

There had already been reports that Lazio were furious with the Lega Serie A for not warning them sooner that the game with Genoa would be played on Wednesday.

The news came as the team was flying back from Genoa, a journey they will now have to repeat tomorrow to be ready for the match.