15.02.2014 14:36 h

Football: Angry Roma launch last-ditch appeal over crowd ban

"Il Capitano" wird vom restlichen Team schmerzlich vermisst

AS Roma have asked Italy's highest sports court to reverse a decision to close the Olympic Stadium's north and south stands to fans for two games, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Saturday.

Roma were handed the crowd ban by the Italian football federation (FIGC) two weeks ago under Serie A's tough 'anti-discrimination' laws after Giallorossi fans were charged with singing anti-Neapolitan songs.

Roma appealed the decision and after it was rejected on Friday, the club issued a statement criticising the "ambiguous" application of the rules.

"We are very disappointed with the Court's decision. We presented concrete motions which were rejected," said a Roma statement.

"We remain steadfastly against all forms of discrimination. The current regulations, however, are ambiguous and their application to date has served to create confusion rather than address the real problems our sport faces."

Roma, who sit nine point behind leaders Juventus with a game in hand, host Sampdoria on Sunday.

Both the north and south 'Curva' will be closed to fans, but Roma have lodged a last-ditch appeal with the Tribunal for Sporting Justice.

A statement on CONI's website said the appeal "is accompanied by an urgent request... to urgently suspend the execution" of the FIGC decision "or reduce it to an equitable sanction".

Roma will be without captain Francesco Totti for the encounter after he picked up a muscle injury during the 3-0 Italian Cup semi-final defeat to Napoli in midweek.