Roma ultras return to stands

By Football Italia staff

Roma ultras announced they will return to the Stadio Olimpico for the last game against Chievo, but will sit “in silence.”

The organised fan groups have boycotted home fixtures all season in Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia in protest at barriers splitting the ‘curva’ – the end where hard-line supporters stand.

There were reports the ultras would return for the final home match of the season against Chievo, as it could well be Francesco Totti’s final Serie A appearance.

However, that proved to be only partially accurate, as a statement was released today.

“We’re coming back home! Every night, even the darkest, ends with the light of the dawn. We are talking about the Curva, a special place that is more a location for the soul than a physical position.

“At Roma-Chievo the vast majority of organised groups from the Curva Sud will return to the stands. In silence, most probably, because the wound of the barriers is still there, bleeding and painful.

“But we have decided to return for the last home game, just as we had decided to leave before the match with Juventus.

“It is not a simple bowing of the head to who knows who. It’s a concrete gesture that proves those who are wrong, and have always been wrong, are those who thought of and installed these barriers.

“If you want to put it another way, it is a gesture of good faith so the usual chattering classes in the mass media can reassure the housewives.

“There was never any need to prove what the Roma fans are. To appreciate them, you just had to observe the Romanisti in the away games this season. Never a problem, only support, warmth, colour and passion.

“Well, at Roma-Chievo this presence will again be at the Olimpico, those people who have been afflicted for an entire season, but who never moved a millimetre from showing their passion and the civil, democratic legitimate protest.

“In fact, it is already certain that whether there are barriers or not, next year the Fedayn and other organised groups who follow this decision will return to the Curva Sud by buying season tickets.

“There is no transfer market, no Francesco Totti or Miralem Pjanic or Radja Nainggolan or James Pallotta who can justify a love affair that began with Roma in 1927.

“The act of faith is performed because we are deeply and unceasingly Romanisti. Aside from all that is good and bad. All that counts is AS Roma.

“Now the ball is passed to the Prefect and the local authorities, let’s see who is able to be consistent, serious, civil and democratic… We are coming home!”

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