Champions League Referee Suspended for Allegedly Threatening to Kill Player

A long-serving Champions League referee, Fabio Maresca, has reportedly been suspended from European action for allegedly threatening to kill a player.

The accusation was made by Kuwait Premier League star Khaled Al Murshed during a match on Friday.

Al Murshed claimed that Maresca said ‘see you next time, I’ll kill you,’ though another player believes the official simply said ‘see you next time’ with no further remark, as per Corriere della Sera. 

Maresca was subsequently removed from his role as the fourth official in Tuesday’s Champions League match between PSV and Sporting Lisbon, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

However, he is likely to avoid punishment in the country where the accusation was made, as he insisted that it was just a joke.

The 43-year-old began officiating in Italy’s professional leagues in 2011 and has been involved in European competitions since 2018.