La North, Central and Caribbean Football Association (Conakakaf) imposed a disciplinary penalty on referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava, for his request to sign Lionel Messi, after Inter Miami beat his compatriot wearing Kansas City, at the first stage of the CONCACAFAF champions.
After the end of the end, the referee approached Messi and seemed to ask his shirt as a memorial in the match. Although it was subsequently clarified that Ortz Nava in fact asked Messi to present it to a member of his family with special needs, this behavior is incompatible with the rules of behavior followed by the managers of the Concacaf .
“Concakakaf achieves the reaction that occurred between referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava and Lionel Messi immediately after the end of the Copa Champions Cup between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami,” said a spokesperson in a press release . “After the investigation, the Concacaf learned that the referee approached the player and asked for his own signature from a family member with special needs.
For having asked Messi an autograph at the end of the match, referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava is sanctioned after the meeting between Inter Miami and Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup on February 19, 2025 pic.twitter.com/y5f4cgpoux
– a tip foot (@UntruCDefoot) February 22, 2025
The press release continued: “The behavior of the decision did not comply with the rules followed in the continental federation of current matches and procedures related to this type of request. The decision recognized its error and apologized for the Accident and before the disciplinary procedure imposed by the Concacaf Federation.
The Concacaf Federation has not revealed the disciplinary measures it will take against the decision.
With its own goal, the Argentinian Messi scored in the 56th minute, Inter Miami beat Sporting Kansas City, which will face on February 25 in the return match.