Referee given 12-match suspension for kicking a player

A Mexican referee Fernando Hernandez has been suspended for 12 matches after he did the unthinkable to a footballer. Referee Fernando Hernandez was the man at the centre of the tense class between Liga MX rivals Leon and Club America.

Leon took the lead in first-half added time as they headed for the break upfront. However, minutes after the hour mark, Diego Valdes Contreras pulled the game level for Club America. The equalizer sparked a wild confrontation from the Leon players as they demanded the referee went for a VAR review.

During the confrontation, Fernando Hernandez kneed Leon’s midfielder Lucas Romero which sent the player sprawling to the ground. Liga MX commenced an investigation into the incident and decided to hand the referee the 12-match ban.

Also, Lucas Romero has been sanctioned with a 2-match suspension for his role in the brawl. The suspensions stand despite the player coming out to admit his part while absolving the referee of the blame. He told Mexican broadcaster TUDN, “Obviously [referees] are human beings, many times they can make mistakes and those mistakes end up developing what happened, a lot of misunderstandings”.

According to AS, per Liga MX rules, “Incurring in any type of violent conduct with the Players, members of the Technical Staff, Officials, with the personnel authorized to remain on the pitch and/or with the public. 1 to 15 games suspension and a fine of 90 to 500 UMAs (10,000 to 52,000 pesos). In the event that the infraction is committed against match officials, the sanction may be increased”.

Meanwhile, the referee came out to apologize while accepting the decision. He said in a statement, “To the fans and public in general, I offer an apology, as well as to Romero, for my reaction. I would never attack him or any other player. I am aware of this and I will abide by the decision of the Disciplinary Commission”.