Controversial referee Marco Di Bello is slated to participate in the upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig, despite his recent suspension in Serie A. The 42-year-old Italian official garnered widespread criticism following a tumultuous display of officiating during Lazio’s 1-0 defeat to Milan, characterized by an excessive issuance of 11 yellow cards and three red cards, resulting in a loss of control over the match.
Di Bello’s subpar performance prompted condemnation from various sectors of the Italian press, culminating in a substantial ban in Serie A, potentially sidelining him for a minimum of one month. Speculation also suggests that his return to officiating in Serie B may only occur following the conclusion of his suspension.
Announced by UEFA through TMW, Di Bello will be integrated into an entirely Italian officiating team for the impending Champions League encounter scheduled for March 6th. In this capacity, he will serve as the fourth official, while Davide Massa assumes leadership as the on-field referee. Stefano Alassio and Filippo Meli are designated as assistant referees, while Massimiliano Irrati and Paolo Valeri are tasked with overseeing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
This season, Di Bello has already faced scrutiny, having received a one-month suspension in the early stages of the campaign following a lackluster performance in Juventus’ match against Bologna in late August.