Referee Disciplined After Messi Autograph Request

Concacaf has disciplined referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava after he requested an autograph from Lionel Messi following a match between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City, violating the code of conduct for match officials. Ortiz approached Messi to acquire an autograph for a family member with special needs, which led to disciplinary action after Ortiz acknowledged his mistake and apologized. The specific penalties have not been disclosed. The incident occurred in extreme weather conditions, with Inter Miami winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Messi. Ortiz's actions drew criticism, as such requests are generally frowned upon among officials to maintain impartiality. The match was part of the Concacaf Champions Cup, and Sporting Kansas City has notified both Concacaf and Major League Soccer for further review.