A seasoned Champions League referee has reportedly been suspended following allegations of issuing a death threat to a player.
Italian outlet Corriere della Sera reported that referee Fabio Maresca was accused of threatening Khaled Al Murshed during a Kuwait Premier League match between Al Kuwait and Al Arabi last week.
Al Murshed has claimed Maresca said, “See you next time, I’ll kill you,” though another player reportedly believes the referee said: “See you next time.”
The official, who has been involved in European football matches for six years, is said to have insisted it was just a joke,, but a punishment has now come his way.
Due to the allegations, Maresca is reportedly facing a one-month suspension from officiating in Italy. The 43-year-old referee was also pulled from his role as the fourth official in Tuesday’s Champions League clash between PSV and Sporting CP.
Despite his lengthy experience in Italian football since 2011, Maresca won’t face any disciplinary action in Kuwait, as the incident was deemed part of “on-field diplomacy.”
This could lead to his return to officiating matches sooner than expected.