Referee removed from Champions League match after allegedly threatening to kill a player

Fabio Maresca was slated to be the fourth official for PSV’s encounter with Sporting CP, but he did not assume the post due to concerns about his conduct when in charge of a match in Kuwait

Fabio Maresca was removed from his Champions League responsibilities for reportedly threatening to murder a player.

The referee was scheduled to be the fourth official in the European match between PSV Eindhoven and Sporting CP, but he was replaced by Daniele Doveri as part of an Italian delegation led by referee Marco Guida and accompanied by Ciro Carbone and Giorgio Peretti. Maresca looks to be on the verge of being barred from officiating in Serie A matches for a month.

CAN president Gianluca Rocchi, who is in charge of distributing match responsibilities in Serie A, will announce a decision shortly as the body responds to charges made against Maresca. It concerns the Italian’s actions in a game against Al Arabi Kuwait SC.

According to Corriere della Sera, Maresca clashed with Khaled Al Murshed after the latter collided with him. Maresca did not take well to the incident, which he did not regard as an accident.Adnan Abdul, an Al Arabi board member, alleged Maresca threatened to murder the player. The lawyer posted on X: “Heading to the Adailiya police station to file a case against the Italian referee of today’s match who managed a match for threatening player Khaled Al-Marshed with the phrase “I will kill you” and this is proven by video and evidence, and for each party to bear responsibility for bringing this type of referee to our stadiums and for everyone to understand the phrase “sports are ethics.”

This is not the first time Maresca has received criticism. Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the official.

Maresca sent out Conte in 2021, while he was in charge of Inter Milan, for criticizing the official’s rulings in a match against Udinese. The 55-year-old coach was suspended for two games and fined £16,700 following a confrontation in the tunnel following the game.The former Juventus player was claimed to have attacked Maresca “in a threatening manner, shouting a seriously offensive expression at him.” Conte is said to have sarcastically said, “It’s always you, Maresca,” after getting his marching orders during the game’s stoppage time. It is always you. Even in the VAR, it’s always you, Maresca. “Well done, Maresca.”

Conte was irritated because he thought Udinese midfielder Tolgay Arslan should have been sent off, and Maresca’s refereeing saw too many fouls awarded, resulting in a disjointed match.