Maurizio Sarri feels referee Craig Pawson is "not up to officiating in Europe" after being left angry at the English referee's display in Lazio's 1-0 win against CFR Cluj.

Pawson sent off Lazio defender Patric 15 minutes into Thursday's Europa Conference League knockout round play-off first leg for a challenge on Ermal Krasniqi.

Patric was issued a straight red card for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity, despite being around 15 yards from the penalty area with other Lazio players around him.

Lazio played the remainder of the match with 10 men, but they found a winner through a Ciro Immobile goal on the brink of half-time at Stadio Olimpico.

Sarri was furious with the decision to send off Patric, however, with the centre-back subsequently ruled out of next week's return leg in Romania.

"We're unfortunate that a referee not up to officiating in Europe has taken charge," Sarri told DAZN. "He's absolutely unsuitable. 

"He changed the match by showing the red card for a foul that wasn't a clear opportunity to score a goal. He then continued to show some strange yellow cards.

"But on a night when everything seemed to be going in the wrong direction, we still obtained an acceptable result."

Pawson, who has officiated international and European fixtures since 2015, has issued 59 yellows and zero red cards in 14 Premier League games this season.

The 43-year-old's next assignment is as fourth official for Liverpool's trip to Newcastle United on Saturday.

Porto and Sporting CP face a one-year ban from playing in Europe if they fail to pay outstanding debts by the end of next month.

UEFA on Friday revealed sanctions that have been issued to eight clubs for breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

Primeira Liga leaders Porto and second-placed Sporting have been fined €300,000 and €250,000 respectively and will not play in the next UEFA club competition they qualify for in one of the next three seasons unless they can prove by January 31, 2022 they have settled "outstanding overdue amounts."

LaLiga side Real Betis have been hit with a €250,000 fine, while CSKA Sofia and CD Santa Clara were both ordered to pay €75,000 and Mons Calpe SC must fork out €15,000.

All of those clubs also face missing out on playing in Europe in either the 2022-23, 2023-24 or 2024-25 season if they qualify, but have not paid what they owe.

FC Astana and CFR 1907 Cluj were fined €150,000 and €200,000 respectively, but were not threatened with a ban.

The newly established First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB First Chamber) also found that AEK Athens did not comply with several club licensing and FFP rules.

The Greek club agreed to pay an unconditional financial contribution of €1.5million, while they will also withhold 10 per cent of UEFA prize money they make in the next UEFA club competition they qualify for.

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