Several Lazio players have received messages by telephone threatening their safety if they fail to lose the Italian Cup final, according to the club's media manager Stefano De Martino. Lazio will meet Roma at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday in what will be an historic first Italian Cup final between the sides. The match has been placed under high security following violent incidents which marred their last league derby barely two months ago.

Rumours of Clarence Seedorf's future appointment as coach of AC Milan intensified Wednesday as incumbent Massimiliano Allegri held an inconclusive meeting with the club's hierarchy. Milan finished third in Italy's Serie A on Sunday, meaning the seven-time European champions will have to successfully negotiate a preliminary round if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League. Allegri won the Scudetto in 2011 in his first season in charge of Milan and finished runner-up last year to Juventus.

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has signed a one-year extension to his contract, which will now end in June 2014, the club said Monday. Abbiati's deal with the Rossoneri was due to expire at the end of this month. The news comes a day after Milan secured third place in Serie A thanks to a 2-1 win away to Siena. The seven-time European champions, who last won the league in 2011, will qualify for the Champions League if they successfully negotiate a preliminary round. jd/bc

Roma will play their next league game without fans in the Olympic Stadium's 'Curva Sud' for their role in targeting AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli with racist abuse last week, officials said Monday. Balotelli was among several Milan players subjected to the abuse when the sides played out a scoreless Serie A draw at the San Siro. The game was marked by the referee halting the match for 90 seconds to make an appeal to Roma's fans. In a statement issued Monday the FIGC said: "The Giallorossi (Roma) will play one game with the Curva Sud (South Stand) empty of fans."