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In the world of sports, referees are meant to be invisible, the silent guardians ensuring fair play. But when Kevin Ortega steps onto the pitch, he's anything but invisible. The 32-year-old Peruvian referee, who took charge of the crucial Copa America group stage clash between the USMNT and Uruguay, has become the talk of the town-and not for the right reasons.
Ortega's history reads like a bad soap opera, filled with plot twists of corruption and scandal. His first-ever Copa America match on Monday night was a must-win for the USMNT, but it quickly devolved into chaos under his watch. From questionable calls to a complete loss of control, Ortega left fans and players alike questioning the integrity of the game.
For those who thought this was just a one-off bad night for Ortega, think again. According to AS Diario, Ortega was embroiled in controversy back in 2022 during a Copa Libertadores match. He awarded a match-winning penalty to Boca Juniors, a decision that raised eyebrows when it was later revealed he had accepted gifts from the Argentine club before the game. Boca's director Jorge Berm�dez brushed off the incident as a mere "gesture of courtesy," but the damage was done. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild.
Fast forward to last Thursday, where Ortega was the fourth official in the USMNT's 2-1 defeat to Panama. Fans noticed the suspiciously short stoppage time at the end of the match, a crucial detail that fell under Ortega's responsibilities. Coincidence? Perhaps. But in light of his track record, it's hard to dismiss these concerns as mere paranoia.
Ortega refused to shake Pulisic's hand after the match
The drama peaked in Kansas City, where the USA's 1-0 defeat to Uruguay ensured their humiliating exit from the tournament. Christian Pulisic, the American captain, was furious. After the final whistle, he approached Ortega and his assistants, offering a handshake-a customary gesture of sportsmanship. But Ortega, in a move that will go down in infamy, refused to shake Pulisic's hand, leaving him hanging in front of a global audience. The snub was caught on camera, adding fuel to the already raging fire of controversy.
Throughout the match, Ortega's decisions baffled everyone. Chris Richards received a yellow card for a foul, only for Ortega to bizarrely allow play to continue in favor of Uruguay. And then there was the winning goal-a questionable offside decision that VAR could not overturn, leaving US fans with a sour taste in their mouths.
Kevin Ortega might have aimed to be a fair and impartial referee, but his actions speak louder than words. The USMNT's Copa America journey ended not with a bang but with a whimper, overshadowed by a referee whose presence on the pitch is more a curse than a blessing. In the game of football, the last thing we need is a referee who steals the show for all the wrong reasons.