Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava has been sanctioned by Concacaf due to his conduct at the end of the match between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami during the Concacaf Champions Cup. The confederation confirmed that disciplinary measures will be taken to address this situation.
In a statement, Concacaf highlighted that Marco Antonio Ortiz acknowledged his mistake and publicly apologized for the action taken. The incident that triggered the controversy occurred when the referee approached Lionel Messi at the end of the match and asked for an autograph for a relative with special needs.
The interaction between Ortiz and Messi has generated criticism, as asking for an autograph from a player goes against the Code of Conduct that governs referees of the confederation. The official report indicates that the Mexican referee violated the rules by making a personal request to a player, something prohibited for match officials.
Although the final sanction has not been specified, it is likely to include a temporary suspension or another form of exemplary punishment. Sporting Kansas City filed a formal complaint with Concacaf and MLS, emphasizing Ortiz's inappropriate conduct in a crucial match that ended with a 1-0 victory for Inter Miami thanks to a goal from Messi.
The situation calls into question the impartiality of referees in the competition, affecting the image of Marco Antonio Ortiz. Concacaf, like other sports entities, underscores the importance of maintaining professional distance and avoiding any interaction that might appear biased or present a conflict of interest.
The penalties determined for Ortiz will send a clear message about respecting the rules in the sporting realm, highlighting the need to maintain integrity and impartiality in each match.
