Roma could be thrown out of the Champions League after their match against Dynamo Kiev was abandoned at halftime when the referee Anders Frisk was struck by an object thrown from the crowd.
UEFA will launch an investigation into the incident which saw the Swedish official fall to the ground with blood pouring from a wound on his forehead after he was hit by a missile thrown by the crowd at the Stadio Olimpico.
“The referee decided to suspend the match first because he was seriously hurt, and second because he says that his safety – and the safety of his assistants and the fourth man – cannot be guaranteed,” a UEFA official confirmed.
The incident occurred after Frisk had sent off Roma defender Philippe Mexes for kicking out at the Kiev striker Maris Verpakovskis. The Italian side trailed 1-0 at the time.
After a 40-minute delay, the match was abandoned.
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said last night: “We deplore what has happened and will wait for the match delegate’s report as well as the referee’s own report of the incident.
“This is the first time in many years that a European match has been stopped for such an incident – sometimes there have been electrical failures with floodlights, of course, but this is something far worse.”
