Referee Fabio Maresca Suspended After Threat

Italian referee Fabio Maresca has been suspended from his UEFA Champions League duties and faces a potential one-month ban from officiating Serie A matches after allegedly threatening to kill Al Arabi player Khaled Al Mershed during a Kuwait Premier League match. Maresca was replaced by Daniele Doveri for the Champions League clash between PSV Eindhoven and Sporting CP. The incident, which reportedly occurred after a collision between Maresca and Al Mershed, has led to conflicting accounts; some claim Maresca said, 'See you next time,' while others allege he added, 'I'll kill you.' Al Arabi board member Adnan Abdul has filed a police report citing video evidence. Maresca insists the comment was a joke, and it appears he will not face further punishment in Kuwait due to on-field resolution.