THE SIDELINES : Death Threats Cancel Match

A Liberator’s Cup semifinal soccer match was suspended after alleged death threats against the referees, the South American Soccer Confederation said.

The match between Atletico Nacional of Colombia and Olympia of Paraguay was to have been played Wednesday at Medellin.

The allegations were made by Vasco de Gama of Brazil, which lost to Atletico Nacional at Medellin last Wednesday, eliminating them from the South American club championships.

Club Vice President Eurico Miranda told the confederation last Friday that referee Juan Daniel Cardelino of Uruguay and other officials were “threatened with death by a band of gunmen . . . if they didn’t help Nacional obtain victory by whatever means.”

“The referees had to change hotels and register under false names to protect themselves,” Miranda said.