Gattuso: Empty Lazio Stadium Feels Like 'COVID Period' Amid Fan Boycott

TL;DR Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso described the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico as resembling the "COVID period" following a 2-2 draw with Milan.

Key Points - Lazio fans are boycotting matches in protest against owner Claudio Lotito. - Gattuso led Lazio to a 2-0 halftime lead before conceding two late goals. - The manager expressed pride in his team's resilience despite the empty stands.

What We Know According to Football Italia, Gattuso spoke to DAZN via TuttoMercatoWeb after the match. He noted that the absence of supporters makes the experience feel like the pandemic era. Lazio were leading 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin, but could not hold the advantage against Milan.

Why It Matters This boycott significantly impacts the club's atmosphere and potentially its financial stability. It highlights deepening tensions between the ownership and the fanbase, which could distract the squad from their on-field objectives during the critical early stages of the season.

What Happens Next It is speculated that further protests may occur if the relationship between Lotito and the supporters does not improve, though no official dates for future actions have been confirmed.