There are behaviors that, if repeated and allowed, become normalized; and this is happening to arbitration in Mexico. The Clausura 2022 league highlights the scenarios of a misapplied administration of justice and its consequences: matches that exceed 90 minutes to compensate for time lost due to breaks and dependence on the review of plays in the VAR (Video assistant referee) when the pressure overwhelms the referees.
Why is it common to witness complaints from players and coaches towards a central or assistant referee? Why are refereeing decisions not always respected without having to be supported by videos?
“The arbitration is in the abyss, it has been damaged by the soccer show where it has been underestimated. They lost an important part that a referee must have: credibility. The VAR is one more slab for the referee where credibility is null. Let the technical directors protest from minute 1 to 90-something, or even in throw-ins. Despite the fact that it is typified in the regulations, many disciplinary things are not applied,” Bonifacio Nuñez, a former Mexican referee, mentions to El Economista.
Miguel Herrera, coach of Tigres, complained about referee Fernando Hernández Gómez in the first leg of the quarterfinals against Cruz Azul. The price was a red card, after striker Nicolás ‘el Diente’ López was also sent off. Last Saturday, in the Tigres vs. Atlas semi-final second leg, André-Pierre Gignac moved his teammates out of the way to take the lead and protest to referee César Ramos Palazuelos.
”The referee charged, he put up with Gignac, but I wonder, is that not typified in the regulations? the humiliation experienced by referees in Mexico, but it is their fault and underhanded by the Referees Commission. They don’t admonish the players who celebrate in the stands either, and it’s in the rule, you can’t. It is a maddening situation”, stresses Bonifacio Nuñez.