Lazio apologise for Lulic racist comment

By Football Italia staff

Lazio have issued an apology on behalf of the club after Senad Lulic made racist comments about Roma defender Antonio Rudiger.

The defender spoke on two different television stations after the 2-0 derby defeat and refused to take back his claim “until two years ago Rudiger was selling socks and belts in Stuttgart.”

Rudiger is a Germany international who Roma signed from Stuttgart for €9m and has at no point in his life been a street seller - a common racist stereotype in Europe.

“The club is pained by these comments and the way they were interpreted. I apologise on behalf of the club, these are statements made in the heat of the moment by a player who just lost the derby,” said Lazio director of communications Arturo Diaconale.

“It went over the line. The controversy started with previous comments from the Roma player, but we all need common sense and to not blow this up.

“The important thing is to recognise the error. We want competition to be in an atmosphere of fair play, which is Lazio’s style.”

When Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti was asked about the Lulic insult, he had a different approach.

“Let him speak. Let him say whatever he wants, because his words show the person he is.”

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