Saturday March 12, 2005 :
Sky News
Swedish referee Anders Frisk has retired from football after receiving death threats from Chelsea fans.
The 42-year-old was heavily criticised after sending off Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the Blues' first-leg Champions League defeat to Barcelona.
He told Swedish newspapers he has been repeatedly threatened by Chelsea fans since the controversial 2-1 defeat at the Nou Camp.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho slammed Frisk after the game, and accused Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard of trying to influence Frisk at half-time.
He said the threats - via post, email and phone - have escalated in the past week, despite Chelsea qualifying to the last eight in the second leg.
He added: "I've had enough. I don't know if I even dare let my kids go to the post office.
"These past 16 days have been the worst in my life as a soccer referee."
He declined to describe the threats, but said most have come from the UK.
Some were directed to other members of his family, he said.
In September he was forced to abandon a Champions League match at Roma's Olympic stadium after being struck by a coin thrown at him from the crowd.
He was scheduled to referee the World Cup qualifying match between Estonia and Slovakia on March 26.
