International sports

Referee banned for six months over Messi autograph request

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.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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