The Mexican Football Association punished referee Fernando Hernández with a one-year ban for kneeing one of the players in the groin during Club América’s 2-2 draw with León on Sunday. León’s disabled midfielder Lucas Romero, who before the incident at the referee angrily demanded that the equalizing goal be reviewed by the video referee, was also given a two-match ban.
“I owe the fans and the public as much as Lucas Romero an apology for my reaction,” Hernández said immediately after the match, denying that he had deliberately attacked the player in the scrum after the equaliser. Even Romero did not demand a penalty for the referee after the match, according to which it was primarily a misunderstanding. But he spoke out for greater mutual respect on the field.
The heated match between the third and fourth teams of the Mexican league was accompanied by a number of conflicts. Coaches Fernando Ortiz and Nicolás Larcamón were also involved in one of the fights, both of whom were also banned for two matches.
