Die-hard fans of Lazio, a top-flight Italian football club, had distributed disgraceful flyers before a Serie A opener against Napoli.
In the handouts, widely shared on social media, Lazio "ultras" called the Curva Nord section at Stadio Olimpico a "sacred place" and an "environment with an unwritten code to be respected."
"The first few rows, as always, have been experienced like the trenches. In the trenches, we do not allow women, wives and girlfriends, so we invite them to position themselves from the 10th row back."
Club officials have condemned the flyers. "It is not the position of the club, we are against any discrimination," Lazio spokesman Arturo Diaconale said, as quoted by The Independent.
The fans' message has sparked a public backlash, with people calling for ultras to be banned and describing their actions as "absolute madness."
Others, however, apparently seemed more receptive to the calls.