CONCACAF has imposed sanctions on the main referee of the match, Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava from Mexico, who officiated the game between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City.
The Round of 16 match in the CONCACAF Champions Cup ended with a score of 1-0. After the game, the referee asked Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi for his jersey.
“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.
ESPN quoted the organization.
Lionel Messi, now 37 years old, has been playing for Inter Miami since the summer of 2023. So far, he has participated in 40 matches for the American club, scoring 35 goals and providing 18 assists.