Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava has been handed a six-month ban from officiating in Concacaf competitions after asking Lionel Messi for his autograph.
Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America, initiated disciplinary action against Ortiz Nava after the 36-year-old approached Messi following the final whistle of Inter Miami CF’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup on February 19.
Ortiz Nava requested the autograph for a family member with special needs.
In a statement, Concacaf confirmed that the referee’s actions violated its Code of Conduct for match officials.
The organization also noted that Ortiz Nava had acknowledged his mistake, issued an apology for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary measures imposed by Concacaf.
Despite the suspension, Ortiz Nava, who officiated a Liga MX match between Puebla and Club Tijuana on Friday, will continue to officiate in Mexico’s top league during the ban.
