Referee who asked for Lionel Messi’s autograph suspended by CONCACAF
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava has been sanctioned by CONCACAF for requesting Lionel Messi’s autograph. According to GOAL.com, he has been suspended from officiating in CONCACAF competitions for six months.
The punishment stems from an incident following the CONCACAF Champions Cup match between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City. After the final whistle, Nava approached Messi and asked for an autograph, later revealing that it was intended for a disabled relative.
Upon learning of the situation, Kansas City filed a formal complaint, arguing that Nava had violated the referee code of conduct. As a result, CONCACAF imposed the suspension. However, he will still be allowed to officiate in Liga MX, despite the league being under CONCACAF’s jurisdiction.
Despite admitting fault and apologizing, Nava could face further consequences in the future. According to reports, any repeat offense could result in an indefinite ban from officiating at the international level.
