Arsenal vs Real Madrid referee boycotted two clubs after sickening threats made to family

The referee who is taking charge of 's upcoming game against once refused to officiate two clubs after his family received a barrage of vile threats. Irfan Peljto will be the man in the middle at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. He is the only Bosnian referee to have officiated in any match.

Peljto has been a FIFA-listed match official since 2015 and is also ranked in UEFA's elite category. He has taken charge of six Champions League games this season, dishing out 15 yellow cards. He issued his only red card during Inter Milan's league phase victory over Monaco, with Christian Mawissa receiving his marching orders for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

It has not all been plain sailing for Peljto throughout his career as a top-level referee. Last year, he made headlines when he refused to officiate two of Bosnia's biggest clubs.

The 40-year-old said he did not want to cover matches between Sarajevo and Zeljeznicar due to threats he and his immediate family were facing. According to Bosnian site , he even reported the threats to the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Peljto was originally scheduled to referee a derby match between Zeljeznicar and Velez Mostar, but was replaced by Elvedin Topuzovic after informing the Football Association of Bosnia that he was not comfortable in the wake of the threats.

An official statement from the association read: "Today [we] received a letter from football referee Irfan Peljto, an international with a FIFA badge.

"He officially informs us that due to threats addressed to him and his family, he is unable to perform the function of an official in the upcoming matches of the WWiN League played by the clubs from Sarajevo.

"We strongly condemn any form of pressure on officials who are active participants in competitions in our country and express deep concern over such phenomena, which have become frequent in recent times.

"We hereby invite the competent authorities to take appropriate measures to prevent such cases in our social community, and to prosecute all responsible persons and stand in the protection of our best football referee, as well as all officials in competitions."

Weeks before the ordeal, Peljto was involved in an unrelated saga when he faced the wrath of Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary forward angrily confronted him on the pitch after Portugal were beaten by Slovenia in an international friendly.

Ronaldo appeared to be furious with two penalty shouts which were not given to Portugal. After the final whistle, he argued with Peljto before storming off the pitch while throwing his arms around and remonstrating with the other officials.