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Referee Fabbri Forced Off With Knee Injury During Como–Roma, Malen Red Card Stands
·11 October 2026·2h ago

Referee Fabbri Forced Off With Knee Injury During Como–Roma, Malen Red Card Stands

Source: Forza Roma

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.

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Story Coverage2 sources on this story

Referee Michael Fabbri was forced to abandon Roma's Serie A match against Como after sustaining a knee injury during the second half. The outlets differ slightly on timing: Roma News places the injury at the 62nd minute, while Forza Roma reports it occurred in the 67th minute, roughly 15 minutes after Fabbri had sent off Roma forward Donyell Malen for a foul on Kaiki. Pierluigi Sozza, who had been serving as fourth official, took over to complete the match. The change in officials prompted a three-minute stoppage.

Malen's red card proved controversial, with Roma's bench and substitutes, including Malen himself, protesting the decision. Forza Roma notes they remonstrated over an allegedly missed foul on Malen in the lead-up to the dismissal. As Fabbri departed the pitch, he explained his situation to Dazn: "My knee is hurting and they're going too fast—I can't keep pushing if they're going at that pace." Luca Marelli, Dazn's officiating expert, acknowledged the referee change and noted that Sozza would need to adjust to the disciplinary standard Fabbri had maintained throughout the match. Despite the change in officiating, Malen's red card stood.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Ha dell'incredibile quanto accaduto al 67' di Como-Roma. A un quarto d'ora dall'espulsione ai danni di Malen tra le polemiche giallorosse, l'arbitro Fabbri ha rimediato un infortunio al ginocchio. Gioco fermo per circa tre minuti e necessario un cambio alla direzione di gara, con Fabbri sostituito…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma →

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