Champions League referee accused of threatening to kill a player axed from match and facing month-long Serie A suspension

According to Italian publication Corriere della Serra, referee Fabio Maresca was accused of making the threat by Khaled Al Murshed in a Kuwait Premier League match between Al Kuwait and Al Arabi last week.

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  WHAT THE REFEREE ALLEGEDLY SAID

  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.

• • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    As a result, Maresca is reportedly set to be banned from officiating in Italy for a month. The 43-year-old was also removed from being the fourth official in Tuesday’s Champions League tie between PSV and Sporting CP.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    However, the referee, who has been officiating in Italian football since 2011, won’t be punished in Kuwait as the incident was seen as ‘on-field diplomacy’. That means he could be officiating on matches very soon.