Referee punished for asking Messi for an autograph!

Referee punished for asking Messi for an autograph!

A memorable incident occurred in the exciting CONCACAF Champions Cup between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi showed off his impressive skills and won the game with the only goal. But that's not the only thing that caused a stir. After the game, Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava was apparently asked for an autograph by Messi, which now has serious consequences for him. Loud Laola1 Ortiz Nava is punished by CONCACAF with a six-month ban from international matches for his inappropriate behavior.

Referee misconduct

CONCACAF has opened an investigation against Ortiz Nava because his behavior did not comply with the code of conduct for match officials. A statement said the referee asked “for an autograph for a family member with special needs.” However, this was deemed inappropriate and the league clarified that such requests do not follow its protocols, as The New York Times reported. Despite his apology, the sentence is unlikely to be reduced, with Ortiz Nava allowed to continue refereeing games in his homeland.

Amid the cold weather, at minus 17 degrees Celsius, Messi put in an outstanding performance by scoring the winning goal after 56 minutes to lead Inter Miami to victory. This incident raises questions about the behavior of referees while Messi continues to be regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.