September 22, (THEWILL) – Roma defeated Udinese 3-0 in Serie A on Sunday, claiming their first win of the season amidst fan protests over the sacking of former coach Daniele De Rossi. Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala, and Tommaso Baldanzi gave Roma a comfortable victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
The match was overshadowed by fan anger directed at the club’s American owners, the Friedkin family, for dismissing De Rossi. The Curva Sud section of the stadium, home to hardcore supporters, remained empty for the first 30 minutes of the game. Fans displayed a banner accusing the owners of disrespecting “our values or our legends”.
Under new coach Ivan Juric, Roma moved up to ninth place with six points. However, the atmosphere remained tense, with supporters jeering the team and chanting De Rossi’s name throughout the match. Midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante faced particularly harsh treatment due to rumours of their involvement in De Rossi’s sacking.
The protests extended beyond the stadium, with CEO Lina Souloukou resigning on Saturday morning after receiving online threats. Police protection was provided for Souloukou and her family, highlighting the intensity of the fans’ reaction to De Rossi’s departure.
Despite the off-field turmoil, Roma’s on-pitch performance was strong. The team will need to maintain this form to appease the angry fanbase and shift focus back to the football field.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
