Malen sent off as Roma's protests grow in Como clash

Donyell Malen was sent off directly by referee Fabbri during Roma's match at Como for a foul on Kaiki. Roma players and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini protested vehemently both against the dismissal itself and over a potential foul committed on Malen moments before the incident. Malen contested the decision to fourth official Sozza, saying: "It's always a foul first, if you whistle a foul first I don't get sent off." The controversy centred on whether the referee should have penalised a challenge on the Roma forward in the lead-up to his own challenge, which would have prevented the red card from being shown.

Referee Michael Fabbri was forced to abandon Roma's Serie A match against Como on matchday 6 after suffering a knee injury in the 62nd minute, just minutes after sending off Donyell Malen for a foul on Kaiki. Fabbri, appointed from the Ravenna section, felt discomfort in his knee and could not continue, prompting an immediate change in officialdom. Pierluigi Sozza, who had been serving as fourth official, took over to complete the match.

Referee Daniele Fabbri was forced to leave the pitch with a knee injury at the 67th minute of Como–Roma on 11 October, triggering a three-minute stoppage and a change in the match's officiating. Fabbri was replaced by fourth official Sozza after sustaining the injury, which occurred roughly 15 minutes after he had sent off Roma forward Donyell Malen amid significant protest from the Giallorossi bench and dugout. Malen and the Roma substitutes had remonstrated with Sozza over an allegedly missed foul on Donyell in the lead-up to the red card. Fabbri admitted as he departed: "My knee is hurting and they're going too fast—I can't keep pushing if they're going at that pace," per Dazn's report. Luca Marelli, Dazn's officiating expert, noted the change in referees and said Sozza would need to adjust to the disciplinary standard Fabbri had maintained up to that point. The incident underscored the physical demands on match officials during Serie A play.

Donyell Malen was sent off directly by referee Fabbri during Roma's match at Como for a foul on Kaiki. Roma players and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini protested vehemently both against the dismissal itself and over a potential foul committed on Malen moments before the incident. Malen contested the decision to fourth official Sozza, saying: "It's always a foul first, if you whistle a foul first I don't get sent off." The controversy centred on whether the referee should have penalised a challenge on the Roma forward in the lead-up to his own challenge, which would have prevented the red card from being shown.

Referee Michael Fabbri was forced to abandon Roma's Serie A match against Como on matchday 6 after suffering a knee injury in the 62nd minute, just minutes after sending off Donyell Malen for a foul on Kaiki. Fabbri, appointed from the Ravenna section, felt discomfort in his knee and could not continue, prompting an immediate change in officialdom. Pierluigi Sozza, who had been serving as fourth official, took over to complete the match.

Referee Daniele Fabbri was forced to leave the pitch with a knee injury at the 67th minute of Como–Roma on 11 October, triggering a three-minute stoppage and a change in the match's officiating. Fabbri was replaced by fourth official Sozza after sustaining the injury, which occurred roughly 15 minutes after he had sent off Roma forward Donyell Malen amid significant protest from the Giallorossi bench and dugout. Malen and the Roma substitutes had remonstrated with Sozza over an allegedly missed foul on Donyell in the lead-up to the red card. Fabbri admitted as he departed: "My knee is hurting and they're going too fast—I can't keep pushing if they're going at that pace," per Dazn's report. Luca Marelli, Dazn's officiating expert, noted the change in referees and said Sozza would need to adjust to the disciplinary standard Fabbri had maintained up to that point. The incident underscored the physical demands on match officials during Serie A play.