An investigation is now taking place
A referee is being investigated in Mexico after he appeared to knee a player in the groin.
Leon midfielder Lucas Romero, alongside his teammates, appealed to the referee to get VAR to look at the goal Club America had scored against them during a Liga MX match.
Fernando Hernandez, who had booked a member of the Leon squad, then appeared to raise his knee into the groin of Romero – who fell to the ground – as he protested the decision.
Despite being on the end of the challenge, Romero has called for the official to avoid punishment.
“Obviously [referees] are human beings, many times they can make mistakes and those mistakes end up developing what happened, a lot of misunderstandings,” he told TUDN.
“I’m not asking for anything [any form of punishment], he told me it was unintentional.
“But just that they also respect us as we respect them on the pitch because they are the authority.”
The Mexican Football Federation released a statement after the game to confirm that they had launched an investigation.
It said: “The Referees Commission informs that an investigation process will be opened into the events that occurred with the referee Fernando Hernández in the América vs. León [match], corresponding to Matchday 13 of the Liga MX.
“The resolution will be released to public opinion.”
If found guilty, Hernandez could face a fine and a suspension lasting anywhere between one to 15 league games.
Related links:
- Andre Marriner told to leave pitchside of Under-9s game for ‘mouthing off at a ref’
- Referee suspended for playing 42 minutes of stoppage time
- IFAB set to introduce new penalty rule from next season
