Roma CEO Lina Souloukou resigns after De Rossi dismissal sparks fan outrage

AS Roma announced on Sunday that CEO Lina Souloukou has resigned, days after the club’s controversial decision to fire coach Daniele De Rossi, which has triggered widespread anger among supporters.

Souloukou, who joined Roma in 2022 after serving as CEO of Olympiacos, stepped down following intense backlash from fans, who were furious over the dismissal of De Rossi, a club legend. In a brief statement, Roma confirmed her departure: “AS Roma announces today that CEO Lina Souloukou has stepped down from her role. We thank Lina for her dedicated service during a critical period for the club and wish her the best in her future endeavours.”

Souloukou became a focal point for fan hostility following De Rossi’s sacking, which came after a poor start to the season and alleged tensions with the club hierarchy. Italian media reported that Souloukou and her family were placed under police protection after receiving threats.

De Rossi, a hometown hero and World Cup winner, was quickly replaced by Ivan Juric, a move that further angered fans. Juric will debut as Roma’s manager against Udinese, with some supporters planning to leave their section empty for the first 30 minutes in protest. Roma currently sits 17th in Serie A, still searching for their first win of the season.

(Source: AFP)