The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) have handed a six-month ban to Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz for asking for an autograph from Argentine player Lionel Messi.
In a statement released by Concacaf, it was noted that the referee’s actions contradict the organization’s ethics, as officiating officials are supposed to remain neutral in all their dealings.
They also announced that Ortiz admitted to requesting an autograph from Messi and rendered an apology to the football governing body to show his remorse.
“The action does not align with the Confederation’s Code of Conduct for match officials. Ortiz acknowledged his mistake, apologized for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary action Concacaf has applied,” portions of the statement read.
The ban comes after Ortiz Nava approached Messi to request an autograph after Inter Miami CF’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on February 19, 2025.
The referee will continue to officiate matches in Mexico’s Liga MX while serving the ban.
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