Italian referees association (AIA) president Marcello Nicchi says parcels filled with bullets have been sent to him and other members of the body.
Nicchi disclosed this on Thursday that the packages had been sent to him, the AIA’s vice president Narciso Pisacreta and referee selector Nicola Rizzoli.
The development comes amid supporter protests over the use of video assistant referees (VAR), introduced in Serie A this season with mixed results.
Nicchi also denounced a journalist who suggested fans “should shoot the referees” and added that police and Italy’s Interior Ministry are investigating the incidents.
Last month, hundreds of angry Lazio fans showed up outside the Italian football federation’s offices in Rome to protest decisions by VAR.
Flyers handed out during the protest claimed the club had lost five games because of VAR decisions and had won other games where “incredible mistakes” were made.
VAR is also being used in German’s Bundesliga, Major League Soccer in the USA and has been trialled in the latter stages of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as well as England internationals.
The system will also be used in this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Sky Sports