Pochettino Slams Gold Cup Final Ref Call: “It Was Embarrassing”

After the United States’ loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final, Mauricio Pochettino made headlines by criticizing a controversial no-call that he believes shifted the balance of the match. At the center of the debate was a potential handball by Mexico’s Jorge Sánchez in the 66th minute, which was not awarded as a penalty.

“I’m not here to cry or make excuses, but that was a clear penalty,” Pochettino said post-match. “The player had one knee on the ground and pressed the ball with his hand. If that happens on the other side, it’s a penalty. Everyone saw it.”

The Argentine coach clarified his comments weren’t aimed at Mexico or their players but at the inconsistency in decision-making. “If that happened against Mexico, we’d be hearing about it non-stop. But for us, it’s just ‘okay, move on’. That’s not fair,” he said.

Despite his frustration, Pochettino congratulated Mexico and coach Javier Aguirre. “They deserve respect. It’s been a long, demanding tournament. Credit to the winner,” he concluded.