Serie A President Says Rome Will Host Next Month's Italian Cup Even If Local Derby

The Italian Cup final will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Rome next month "even if it ends up as a local derby match," according to Terry Daley of REUTERS. There are fears that if Serie A clubs AS Roma and Lazio get through to the final on May 26 "there could be a repeat of the scenes that marred Monday night's 1-1 league derby." The issue "is further complicated by the Rome mayoral elections that will take place on the same day." Serie A President Maurizio Beretta said, "In Milan the last derby was played on the same day as the local elections and in any case the final can't be moved to Saturday because of the Champions League final. It's right the final is played in Rome" (REUTERS, 4/13).