Football referee ‘banned for six months’ after asking Lionel Messi for autograph during Inter Miami match
A referee who asked Lionel Messi for his autograph has reportedly been banned for six months from CONCACAF competitions.
Mexican official Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava made the unusual request following an Inter Miami match last week.
The 36-year-old approached the World Cup winner after Miami’s 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the Champions Cup.
CONCACAF, North America’s football governing body, took action after concerns were raised about the referee’s impartiality.
Nava reportedly wanted the signature as a gift for a family member with special needs.
The incident occurred after Messi had opened the scoring in Miami’s win.
The referee approached the Argentine star at full-time to make his request, with Messi happy to oblige.
¡Qué barbaridad!
El árbitro mexicano ‘Gato’ Ortiz, en lugar de hacer su chamba, andaba de fan pidiéndole la camiseta a Messi después del partido…
Según trasciende, Messi se la dio en los vestidores, después de que el frío de la zona hiciera que el zurdo argentino prefiriera… pic.twitter.com/FmRb5bhaLX
— José Luis Morales (@JLMNoticias) February 21, 2025
ESPN reports that Nava has since apologised for his actions but been slapped with a six-month ban by CONCACAF officials.
The governing body has also warned that he will be “punished indefinitely” for any further breaches.
Despite the ban and subsequent apology from Nava, the full implications for his career remain unclear.
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It appears Nava will continue to officiate matches in his native Mexico, which is notable as Mexico is part of the CONCACAF region.
Nava was already back in action last Friday, officiating the top flight clash between Puebla and Club Tijuana.
It remains uncertain whether he will be assigned to referee another match in the next round of fixtures.
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The six-month ban specifically applies to CONCACAF competitions rather than domestic Mexican league matches.
Meanwhile, Messi himself has faced disciplinary action following a separate incident.
The Argentine star was fined an undisclosed amount after a clash during a recent MLS match.
The incident occurred at the end of Miami’s 2-2 draw with New York City on Sunday.
Messi was seen putting his hand on the back of the neck of a New York City coach, much to the shock of fans online.
A disciplinary committee subsequently imposed the financial penalty for his actions.