Although the initial collision didn’t seem serious, Adnan Abdul, a board member of Al-Arabi, claimed that Maresca responded by threatening the player. This led to further disciplinary action, and Maresca now faces a potential one-month suspension from officiating in Italy’s Serie A.

Maresca was initially selected as the fourth official for the Champions League clash between PSV and Sporting CP but was replaced by fellow Italian referee Daniele Doveri. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. The incident has raised concerns about professionalism and conduct in refereeing, particularly at high-stakes international competitions like the UCL.