Concacaf has taken disciplinary action against referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava after he was caught on camera requesting an autograph from Lionel Messi following Inter Miami’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Ortiz Nava approached Messi immediately after the final whistle at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night, seemingly asking for the Argentine star’s jersey.
While it was later revealed that the request was for an autograph intended for a family member with special needs, the act violated Concacaf’s strict code of conduct for match officials.
“The referee has acknowledged his mistake, apologized for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary action Concacaf has applied,” a Concacaf spokesperson told ESPN.
The confederation did not specify what punishment Ortiz Nava will face, but the controversy has sparked debate over professionalism and ethics in officiating. Sporting Kansas City confirmed that they reported the incident to Concacaf and Major League Soccer and are awaiting further review.
Lionel Messi Magic and Freezing Conditions
Messi’s second-half goal secured a crucial away victory for Inter Miami in the first leg of their Champions Cup clash.
The match itself had already been overshadowed by extreme weather conditions, with a winter storm warning forcing a 24-hour postponement.
While Kansas City ultimately avoided heavy snowfall, the frigid temperatures led Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, to describe the playing conditions as “not human.”
Inter Miami will now look to finish the job at Chase Stadium on February 25 when they host Sporting KC for the second leg.
