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Referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava, who requested Lionel Messi’s autograph after the Champions Cup games against Kansas City, has been handed a ban.

Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava has reportedly been handed a six-month ban by CONCACAF after he was filmed making a request of Lionel Messi following the Champions Cup game between Inter Miami and Kansas City. 

Lionel Messi was the hero in their Champions Cup debut as Inter Miami recorded a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City.

In their opening game of the MLS, Lionel Messi bagged 2 assists to help Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw against New York City FC.

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What happened? 

As Pulse Sports reported, Ortiz Nava approached Messi to ask for his autograph for a special needs family member of his after the Argentine scored the solitary goal to help his side advance past Kansas City in Round One of the Champions Cup.

The referee faced significant backlash for his action, with the Wizards sending an official complaint to CONCACAF. The confederation released a statement, announcing that Ortiz was apologetic and had accepted a sanction from the federation. 

Punishment revealed 

According to a report from ESPN, the sanction implied in CONCACAF’s statement is a six-month ban. The Mexican official is said to have been suspended from CONCACAF refereeing duties until later in the year.

However, he is still permitted to officiate Mexican Liga MX matches for the duration, with the punishment only affecting the confederation-organised international matches. 

Meanwhile, the MLS season has begun, and Messi continued from where he stopped last season, in which he won the Supporters Shield but lost the MLS Cup. He assisted twice against NY City. The second assist was timely, as it came late in the game, earning the Miami franchise a point to start the campaign with.