Italian referee Fabio Maresca has been suspended from UEFA Champions League matches after allegedly threatening to kill a player during a Kuwait SC vs. Al-Arabi clash.
Italian referee Fabio Maresca has been suspended from officiating UEFA Champions League matches after allegedly threatening to kill a player during a match. The incident occurred during a clash between Kuwait SC and Al-Arabi when Maresca was confronted by player Khaled Al Murshed following a collision. Although the referee initially downplayed the situation, board member Adnan Abdul later revealed that Maresca had uttered the threat.
As a result of this incident, Maresca faces a potential one-month suspension from his Serie A refereeing duties. He was scheduled to be the fourth official for the Champions League match between PSV and Sporting CP but was replaced by Daniele Doveri. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, officiated by Marco Guida, with assistance from Ciro Carbone and Giorgio Peretti.
Reactions to Maresca's conduct have been largely critical. Many fans and observers expressed shock at the severity of the threat and the lack of a more substantial punishment. Some commentators described him as lacking anger management skills, while others highlighted a disturbing trend of tolerating unacceptable behavior in sports. Calls for a lifetime ban and legal action against Maresca have surfaced, emphasizing a growing concern over the standards of officiating in professional sports. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen what further consequences Maresca may face.
