A long-serving Champions League referee, Fabio Maresca, has reportedly been suspended from European duties following allegations that he threatened to ki!l a player during a match.
The accusation comes from Khaled Al Murshed, a Kuwait Premier League player, who claims Maresca said, “See you next time, I’ll k!ll you” during a game on Friday.
However, another player disputed this, asserting that the referee only said, “See you next time,” without any threatening remark, according to Corriere della Sera.
As a result of the controversy, Maresca was 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. Despite the severity of the allegation, Maresca has insisted that the remark, if made, was intended as a joke, and he may avoid further punishment in the country where the incident took place.
Maresca, 43, has been officiating in Italy’s professional leagues since 2011 and has served in European competitions since 2018.