Marco Serra ‘SACKED as Serie A referee ahead of 2023-24 season’ after Jose Mourinho February spat

Serie A official Marco Serra has reportedly been sacked ahead of the 2023/24 season following his spat with Jose Mourinho in February.

The decision has been made by the Italian Referees Association in light of his behaviour in the Cremonese-Roma match on 28th February. 

Mourinho was sent to the stands after a bitter altercation with the fourth official in that match, with the Portuguese manager claiming he was insulted by Serra.

The official was subsequently suspended but a verdict by the National Federal Court found he could not be dismissed. 

Now, Sky Italia are reporting that the 40-year-old has been sacked for ‘justified technical reasons’. 

Serie A official Marco Serra has been reportedly sacked for the upcoming season

It follows a pitchside clash with Roma manager Jose Mourinho during a match at Cremonese

Explaining the quarrel, Mourinho told the Court of Appeals that he had asked for an explanation on a foul on defender Marash Kumbulla that hadn’t been given. 

However, in response to the manager’s allegations of ‘unjustifiable’ behaviour, Serra insisted: ‘I haven’t said anything that could offend Mourinho. I didn’t say those words. At that moment, I said something else.

‘I said, you’re making the stadium turn against you. Go to the area, go to the area.’

Serra was reported to have sworn at Mourinho during a heated debate over a controversial call

The incident happened during Roma’s shock defeat to Cremonese in February.

Mourinho reportedly asked Serra for an explanation over a controversial decision, and was told to ‘mind your own f**king business’ in reply, leading to an altercation. 

Mourinho threatened to take legal action after he accumulated his third dismissal of the campaign during the game, which saw Cremonese pick up their first win of the Serie A season.

AS Roma finished the season in sixth place, securing another Europa League berth, while Cremonese finished with five wins, but were unable to climb any higher than 19th in the Serie A table, confirming their relegation for the new season.