SPARKS FLY IN ROME

Last updated : 16 September 2004 By Editor
This from The Times on the bizarre happenings in Rome last night.

AS Roma are facing severe penalties from Uefa after their opening Champions
League group B match at home to Dynamo Kiev was abandoned last night when Anders Frisk, the Swedish referee, was felled by an object thrown from the
crowd.

TV pictures showed blood pouring from a wound in the middle of Frisk's forehead after he was struck by what appeared to be a cigarette lighter at the end of the first half, moments after sending off Philippe Mexes, the Roma defender, for kicking Maris Verpakovskis, the Kiev striker.

Frisk needed medical attention to the wound, and after a 40-minute delay, it was announced over the Olympic Stadium loudspeaker that the match was being abandoned.

"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 said.

Television pictures showed a bearded fan in a black T-shirt throwing an object
towards the referee, but it was unclear whether that was the object that hit him.
The incident began when Frisk sent off Mexes shortly after blowing the whistle
for half-time. While players and officials remonstrated, Frisk was struck as he
made his way off the field to the tunnel.

At the end of the first half Dynamo led Roma 1-0 thanks to a 29th-minute free
kick by Goran Gavrancic. The ugly incident is likely to land Roma in hot water. They will inevitably be fined and Kiev could be awarded the three points. Roma, who have a poor disciplinary record, may also be forced to play their remaining first phase matches at a neutral stadium.