Sun 21 March, 2004 21:13
ROME, March 21 (Reuters) - The Lazio v AS Roma derby match in Italy's Serie A was abandoned shortly after the start of the second half on Sunday.
No official reason was immediately available. The score was 0-0 at the time. The ANSA news agency said the abandonment was "for public order reasons."
Players, club officials and the referee and his assistants had gathered in the centre of the pitch amid scenes of confusion after flares had been thrown from the crowd.
Talks continued for about 15 minutes and the referee Roberto Rosetti was then seen to walk off the pitch as the game was declared abandoned.
Rumours had filtered into the stadium that a child had been knocked down and killed by a police car outside the Olympic Stadium.
The match was four minutes into the second half when a fan walked on to the pitch behind the Roma goal to interrupt the match with the report.
The police department of Rome quickly denied the rumour - the denial was heard on the stadium loudspeakers - but after a 15-minute delay the players agreed to abandon the match.
Roma, currently second in Serie A on 57 points, were trying to close the 10-point gap with leaders AC Milan.
-------reuters.co.uk
no official reason yet... |