Lazio leave for Brescia to escape fans' anger

Embattled Lazio yesterday retreated to Brescia to escape furious fans. An invasion of Lazio's training ground by angry supporters on Tuesday apparently convinced the coach, Alberto Zaccheroni, to take his team as far north as possible well ahead of schedule. Lazio play Brescia on Sunday.

The decision to leave yesterday was taken after more than 400 supporters stormed Lazio's training headquarters in Formello on Tuesday afternoon. The club president, Sergio Cragnotti, under whose stewardship Lazio won their first Italian title in 26 years in 2000, was furious.

"What they have done is scandalous," he said. "They have forgotten very quickly the 10 successful years we have had. I cannot accept this behaviour. Our fans are lacking maturity."

The players fled to the safety of the dressing-room as supporters, angered by Sunday's 5-1 capitulation to their local rivals Roma, went on the rampage. Some players, including the captain, Alessandro Nesta, and the Argentinian international Hernan Crespo, had to be treated for minor injuries. The police were called and, after a two-hour delay, the players were able to train while the supporters chanted insults from behind a police cordon.

There has, however, been some hope for Lazio, with more reports linking the Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron with a return to the Roman club. Veron's agent, Gustavo Mascardi, was reportedly due to meet United executives at last night's Champions' League meeting with Bayern Munich.

The Italian paper Corriere dello Sport also claimed that United are interested in Perugia's Colombian goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba.

Marcello Lippi, the Juventus coach, was despondent following his side's unexpected exit from the Champions' League. The Bianconeri went crashing out after they were beaten 3-1 by Bayer Leverkusen.

Juventus were missing a number of key players such as the striker Alessandro del Piero, the midfielder Edgar Davids and the defender Mark Iuliano.