Fan Club Check-In: AIRC and UTR

We spoke to AIRC president Francesco Lotito and his UTR counterpart, Fabrizio Grassetti, to find out more about how their fan associations have coped over the past few months...

Usually engaged in activities at the Stadio Olimpico and around Rome during the domestic season, both fan groups - and their members - have faced a wide variety of new challenges in recent times.

Here Lotito and Grassetti explain how their organisations have tried to stay connected with members over the last three months, how so many members have worked hard to help those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic - and why they are all now looking forward to the return of football in the coming weeks...

How has your association kept in contact with affiliated Roma clubs during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Francesco Lotito: "Bearing in mind the fact that the AIRC has been forced to close its headquarters in the EUR district since the start of March, coordinators have been in contact with affiliated Roma clubs through the internet and social media. Furthermore, following the tragic passing of Fabrizio Di Francesco in a car accident, a special edition of the magazine that the AIRC periodically sends to all its clubs was put together in tribute to the honorary president."

Fabrizio Grassetti: "We’ve tried to stay as close as we can to our club members, beginning with direct contact in the morning through our daily newsletter, 'Buongiorno Lupe e Lupi'.

"The newsletter includes a 'Good morning' greeting to Roma fans, and an illustration of a Romanista motto.

"We also published issues of the UTR Magazine for March, April and May, which were sent to members via WhatsApp. In each issue of the magazine, several pages have been dedicated to UTR members.

"Additionally, we hosted online broadcasts where we interviewed different club members, and even hosted trivia nights where clubs competed against each other in quizzes about different aspects of Roma history."

Can you tell us a bit about the charitable initiatives that your association, or other affiliated Roma clubs, have introduced to help people in need during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Lotito: "The association immediately joined AS Roma's solidarity campaign to support Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, which involved all the affiliated Roma clubs through internal messaging communications and mailing lists.

"Through internal consultation via group chat, the coordinators allocated the sum of €1,000 to the Roma Club Bergamo, which was then donated to the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo - one of the cities that has been worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Roma Club Bergamo have also auctioned a match-worn Gianluca Mancini jersey, with the proceeds donated to the aforementioned hospital.

"The association has been supportive of Roma Club Brescia and, in particular, club president Enrico Danesi, a healthcare operator at Chiari Hospital, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 but fortunately recovered. While working at the hospital, Danesi drew the names and numbers of Roma players on his protective suit to turn it into a special football kit.

"Below is a full list of how AIRC-affiliated clubs helped those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Roma Club Brescia: The club bought and donated general food provisions for those most in need.
• Roma Club North UK: Club members offered volunteering services and distributed medication and food in Manchester in the United Kingdom.
• Roma Club Padova: A couple, both of whom are members, are working in the intensive care unit at Padua Hospital and have actively helped manage Covid-19 patients.
• Roma Club Verona: Club members donated FFP2, FFP3 and full masks to healthcare workers at the Borgo Roma Hospital in Verona.
• Roma Club Torino: Members came together to fundraise for the Amedeo di Savoia Hospital in Turin.
• Roma Club Ancona: Funds raised have gone towards civil defence in Ancona.
• Roma Club Lupi Casertani: Club members purchased food supplies for the most in-need.
• Roma Club Testaccio: The club purchased and delivered groceries to families in need.
• Roma Club Trani: The club purchased and delivered food to the Antoniano Orphanage in Trani.
• Roma Club Atessa: A donation was made to the Covid-19 department at Atessa Hospital.
• Roma Club Cava de’ Tirreni: The club distributed medication and food to local residents.
• Roma Club Matera: Members made donations to the S. Rocco Church in Matera.
• Roma Club Lucania: The club donated disposable medical gowns to the Madonna delle Grazie Hospital in Matera."

Grassetti: "Together with our association, 27 of our Roma clubs have embarked on initiatives of solidarity and charity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The clubs are listed below:

Unione Tifosi Romanisti, Forlì, Washington D.C, Catanzaro, Pistoia, Imperia, Roma clubs in the Campania region (Saviano, Frattamaggiore, Romanisti Campania 6:56, Battipaglia, Caserta, Napoli, Urbs Nuceria, Pompei, Vesuvio Giallorosso), Lenola, Palombara Sabina, Trentino, Quirinale, Eur Torrino, New York, Ministero della Difesa (Ministry of Defence), Tevere, Montegiove Giallorossa Genzano, Banca d’Italia Eurosistema, L’Aquila and Lupi di Londra (Roma Club in London)."

Can you talk about what it means to see the country starting to reopen and how it feels to see Roma training again?

Lotito: "The association is pleased to see the positive developments with regard to the pandemic in recent weeks, with the gradual fall in the number of victims, hospital admissions, and infections - and the government's subsequent decision to ease lockdown measures. This has allowed people to go back to work, resume relationships and friendships, and get outside again.

"Knowing that Roma have resumed training at Trigoria is proof that we are returning to some form of normality, which gives all of us a morale boost."

Grassetti: "Seeing so many activities across the country restart has been a source of joy and hope, although some concerns remain because the two ongoing emergencies – the health emergency and the social one – cannot yet be considered overcome.

"Additionally, seeing Roma return to training is a significant sign of a slow return to normality, and certainly provides a stimulus to overcome the ongoing difficulties, if only from a psychological point of view. In short, it’s something that has brought happiness and increases an already enormous desire to see Roma take to the field for competitive matches, and to honour the glorious Giallorossi jersey.

"Closing our eyes, we can even imagine ourselves in the stands of the stadium, cheering and pushing our team on towards greater objectives."

What does it mean to your association to be part of the wider Roma family during such a difficult time?

Lotito: "The AIRC, which aims to bring fans together, has always felt that we are an important part of the Roma world, and have been linked to the club since 1971; be it at the Stadio Olimpico or at away games in Italy, or across Europe, sharing countless moments with this incredible club.

"During this tragic period, we are so proud of the range of charitable activities and social initiatives that the club has undertaken through Roma Cares."

Grassetti: "It’s something to be proud of. There have been countless praiseworthy initiatives that the Giallorossi have conducted for those less fortunate, which have set an incredible example for the club, its fans, and the entire sporting world."

Without fans in the stands, how are you looking to ensure that your Roma clubs can still be part of the matchday experience?

Lotito: "All of our clubs have links with Sky and DAZN, which will be broadcasting the games that Roma will be playing behind closed doors. It's important and fundamental for so many reasons - both financial and competitive - that the league resumes and reaches its conclusion. We're therefore in full agreement with the club for moving forward in this manner."

Grassetti: "While there is concern for our association, which, as things stand, cannot currently provide members with many important services, we will try to make the clubs feel our presence so that they can maintain all that passion and love that makes the Roma fanbase the best in the world."

To find out more about AIRC, click here to visit their website

To find out more about UTR, click here visit their website