Shame in Serie D: Stone Thrown at an Assistant Referee, Field Closed, and a 2,000-euro Fine
A very serious incident of violence occurred during the Sestri Levante vs. Bra match, a Serie D Group A game that ended with a 3-2 victory for the home team. An assistant referee was struck in the head by a rock thrown from the stands—an unacceptable act that led the Disciplinary Committee to impose a severe penalty on the Ligurian club. The incident occurred in the 14th minute of the second half, when someone threw a rock onto the field, striking one of the assistant referees in the head. The impact caused a contusion, though fortunately it did not prevent him from continuing the match.
The Disciplinary Committee has ordered Sestri Levante’s home stadium to be suspended for one match, effective immediately. The Ligurian team will therefore have to play one home game at a neutral venue and behind closed doors. In addition to the suspension, the club was fined 2,000 euros.
It was not a quiet matchday in the fourth division. Bisceglie was fined a whopping 2,500 euros for what happened on Sunday during their match against Gladiator, a game officiated by referee Carluccio and won by the Campania-based team thanks to a penalty kick awarded in stoppage time when the Apulian side was down to 8 players and the visitors had 10.
After reviewing the report submitted by the referee from Abruzzo, the penalty was imposed “for the unauthorized presence during the first half of two unidentified individuals—clearly affiliated with the club—who were standing behind one of the two goals on the field. Removed during halftime thanks to the intervention of several local officials, they repeated this conduct from the fifth minute of the second half until the end of the match,” as stated in the press release.
And further… “At the end of the match, one of these individuals, unlawfully entered the locker room area and approached the referee in a threatening manner, attempting to assault him but failing to do so thanks to the intervention of several club officials and law enforcement officers who escorted the referee to his locker room. In addition, their own supporters were positioned outside the sports facility.”
