Serie A club Roma has lodged an appeal to be

awarded victory from their away match on Sunday against Cagliari following its

controversial postponement hours before kick-off.

The match was set to be played in an empty stadium because Cagliari's Is Arena stadium is still undergoing renovation work.

However, club president Massimo Cellino invited supporters to attend the match regardless, forcing the prefect of Cagliari to call a halt to the league fixture over security fears.

Roma have had a mediocre start to the season with just one win in their opening three games but would have started the match as favourites with

Cagliari yet to win in the league.

A club statement said: "In light of the decision taken by the prefect of Cagliari to postpone Cagliari v Roma, as a direct consequence of the statement published by Cagliari Calcio yesterday, AS Roma would like to announce that it has lodged a complaint to the appropriate sporting governing

bodies".

Roma's general manager Franco Baldini hit out at the alleged manipulation of the situation by Cagliari and indicated that the club would be appealing to be awarded the match victory.

Baldini said: "Roma clearly intends to support its own interests along with those of its fans, but the club also wants to protect a fundamental principle, namely that sporting competition should respect the rules, which are objective

and should at no time be manipulated to suit vested interests".

A police statement issued earlier explained why the match could not go ahead. It also criticised the Cagliari president's decision to invite fans to

the game.

"This decision was deemed necessary ... to prevent trouble and unrest amid serious security concerns and was a result of the emotional, irrational and inconsiderate invitation from the Cagliari president."

A new date to reschedule the match has not yet been announced.