Referee who made plea to Lionel Messi after game ‘landed with six-month ban’

A match official has been slapped with a hefty ban after an interaction with superstar Lionel Messi during Inter Miami’s clash with Sporting Kansas City last week

Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava has been handed a six-month ban after asking Lionel Messi for his autograph at the end of an Inter Miami match.

Ortiz Nava, a prominent official in the top division in his home country, Liga MX, was seen approaching the Argentine icon at the conclusion of his side’s 1-0 victory against Sporting Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

According to a statement, the 36-year-old made the request on behalf of a family member with special needs but saw disciplinary action opened against him for the act.

It has now been revealed that Ortiz Nava has been banned from officiating in Concacaf competitions for six months – and should he re-offend, he could face indefinite punishment.

As per ESPN, it was assumed after the full-time whistle that Ortiz Nava approached the victorious Messi asking for his shirt, but this was later confirmed to be an autograph request. Such an action goes against the code of conduct for Concacaf officials, hence the lengthy ban.

“Concacaf is aware of the interaction that occurred between referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava and player Lionel Messi immediately following the final whistle of last night’s Concacaf Champions Cup match between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami CF,” a Concacaf spokesperson told ESPN.

“Upon investigation, Concacaf has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs. The referee’s conduct does not align with the Confederation’s Code of Conduct for match officials and existing processes for these types of requests. The referee has acknowledged his mistake, apologized for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary action Concacaf has applied.”

This has not been the only controversy surrounding footballing icon Messi this month. He, too, faced disciplinary action and was fined for a post-match lashing out towards NYCFC coach Mehdi Ballouchy.

In Inter Miami’s opening MLS clash, a heated 2-2 draw spilled over after the final whistle. Messi was seen approaching New York assistant Ballouchy after full-time and twice put his hands on the back of his neck. The 37-year-old was fined an undisclosed amount for the act, which his manager and former team-mate Javier Mascherano later spoke about.

“I don’t have too many things to say. It’s difficult when you are on the pitch,” Mascherano stated. “And sometimes you think things are not going the right way because sometimes you can see some mistakes from the referee. But at the end, in football, to understand the players and the emotions of the player, you have to be inside on the pitch, and [trying] to see from afar, it’s difficult.

“It’s difficult sometimes to control the emotions. I think the press sometimes want to create a circus about it. And that happens in every game that you can discuss with the referee, with some opposing players. It’s like this.

“It’s important, that’s what we say in Argentina, what we say, the things that happen in the pitch stay in the pitch. And we forget we are looking forward to the next game.”

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