A REFEREE who asked Lionel Messi for his signature has reportedly been banned for six months.
Mexican official Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava, 36, made the bizarre request during last week’s Champions Cup clash between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City.
XA referee who asked for Lionel Messi’s autograph has been banned for six months[/caption]
XMarco Antonio Ortiz Nava has been warned of an even worse punishment in the future[/caption]
¡Qué barbaridad!
— José Luis Morales (@JLMNoticias) February 21, 2025
El árbitro mexicano 'Gato' Ortiz, en lugar de hacer su chamba, andaba de fan pidiéndole la camiseta a Messi después del partido…
Según trasciende, Messi se la dio en los vestidores, después de que el frío de la zona hiciera que el zurdo argentino prefiriera… pic.twitter.com/FmRb5bhaLX
Messi opened the scoring in Miami’s 3-1 win.
And at full-time, Nava approached the World Cup winner asking for an autograph.
It’s claimed he wanted it as a gift for a family member with special needs.
But North America’s football governing body, CONCACAF, opened an investigation after concerns were raised over impartiality.
And ESPN reports Nava has now been banned for six months from CONCACAF competitions.
It’s added he will be “punished indefinitely” for any further breaches.
And Nava is said to have apologised for his actions.
However, it appears he will continue to officiate in his native Mexico.
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That’s despite the country being part of CONCACAF.
Nava was in action on Friday for the top flight clash between Puebla and Club Tijuana.
Yet it remains to be seen if he will be handed another game in the next round of fixtures.
As for Messi, he found himself in hot water at the weekend following a clash in the MLS.
Messi was seen putting his hand on the back of the neck of a New York City coach.
The incident occurred at the end of Miami’s 2-2 clash on Sunday.
And a disciplinary committee fined Messi an undisclosed amount for his actions.
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