So my husband is a European soccer fan. He found out about Rome's annual crosstown rivalry game, the Derby Della Capitale, which will be on April 3 this year. He'd love to go. We looked around online, and apparently sometimes if you buy tickets online and print them out, they don't scan properly at the stadium. Most Romans probably buy their tickets at one of the local stores/kiosks that sell them, but we wouldn't be in town very many days ahead of the game. Any recommendations for buying tickets or thoughts on this particular game? It sounds as if the rivalry can be a bit intense, but that could contribute to an exciting atmosphere. I'd be happy to avoid racist chants or any possibility of violence, though, so if we're better off watching the game in a local bar or other venue, I'm eager to hear advice from those who have insights into these issues. Grazie!
Well, in 2015 there were some violence, by the way not even near the soccer stadium, so this is always a possibility. I will leave to Romans and tifosi to give you instruction. My two cents: Lazio colors are white and light blue, Roma colors are yellow and red. If you are not sure to understand perfectly what will be happening around you, you should better dress in neutral colors.
You can go to the websites of the individual teams to buy tickets, however both websites will redirect you to a ticket service called Listicket.com, so you might as well go there directly.
http://www.listicket.com/ticketing/home/
The tickets for that game don't appear to be yet available for sale. The modalities for the purchase of tickets for that game will be published in the next few weeks. In any case the only tickets which will be available for that game are likely only the more expensive sectors. So be ready to pay 50 euro and up per person. That is not necessarily bad, since the hooligans, all of whom are season ticket holders, tend to stay in the curves (least expensive). You will need a photo ID to enter the stadium. For security reasons, soccer tickets are nowadays like airplane tickets, they bear the name of the ticket holder who must show photo ID matching the name on the ticket for entry.
As mentioned above, violence inside the stadium is not as common nowadays, especially in the more expensive sectors (the stands on the sides of the field). Opposing hooligan fans are carefully separated in opposite sectors. However violence between hooligans of the opposing teams does occasionally occur, especially between Laziali and Romanisti, outside the stadium (not necessarily near the stadium, basically wherever the two groups happen to run into each other).
Wear neutral colors that don't resemble either team playing in the Derby della Capitale
Thank you, such helpful advice! I think paying more for tickets and being a bit away from hooligans sounds like a good idea.
We will definitely avoid wearing red and yellow (Roma) and white and light blue (Lazio) as well as black (which I understand can be seen as connoting fascist sympathies among some of the fans). As long as we're careful, it should be a fun experience.
Mille grazie!
Just for you to know, fascists are usually on the Lazio side (starting from Mussolini). Black in itself is a neutral color - the color I would wear when I do not want to be noticed - what is a fascist symbol is a solid black shirt. Ok, Ok, gray would be better.
Another option is to purchase tickets via the resale site Viagogo:
The seller will provide a ticket transfer letter which will allow you inside along with your passport. Tourists carrying passports to the stadium don't need to worry about the IDs printed on the ticket.
Don't worry about hooliganism. Trouble rarely happens inside the stadium, more often than not it's in the city center. Even then, bystanders typically don't get caught up in it.
http://www.stadiumguide.com/olimpico/
Above link provides useful information about the stadium such as transportation. For a major stadium it has very poor public transport options compared to other major stadia in western Europe.
If you are a fascist you will feel perfectly at home in the Lazio fans' sector. Communists need not apply in their ranks. Wearing a Fascist fez hat and maybe a picture of the Duce will guarantee you a spot in the Lazio fans' club.
Ok, thanks to everyone for the advice!
Roberto, you crack me up. Am I to deduce that AC Roma fans tend toward the sinistra?