ESPN has learned of a referee's six-month suspension for taking Messi's autograph

Mexican referee Marco Ortiz was suspended for six months for taking an autograph from American soccer club (FC) Inter Miami and Argentina striker Lionel Messi after the match. This was reported by ESPN TV channel on February 24, citing a source.

It is specified that the incident occurred after the game between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City at the Champions Cup of the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF).

Ortiz approached the Argentine after the final whistle asking for an autograph. CONCACAF said that the referee's behavior did not comply with the Confederation's code of conduct. The referee in turn acknowledged the mistake and apologized for it. In case of repeated violations, he may be banned from refereeing matches indefinitely, the channel noted.

February 20, it was reported that the former head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales was sentenced to a fine of € 10.8 thousand for kissing soccer player Jennifer Hermoso without her consent. The incident with Rubiales and Hermoso took place in August 2023 in Australia during the awarding of the winners of the Women's World Cup.