05 April 2023 , 10:22
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A Liga MX referee has been handed a 12-match ban after kneeing a footballer in the groin.
The incident happened during Leon's 2-2 draw against Club America on Sunday. Fernando Hernandez decided to lash out at Leon's Lucas Romero.
It all started as Romero appeared to be unhappy with Hernandez's decision to award Jaine Barreiro a yellow card. Romero then decided to go up to the official to plead his case.
The Argentine midfielder got extremely close to Hernandez as he vented his frustration, before the referee lost control and decided to strike him in the groin region. Romero immediately fell to ground in extreme pain.
This caused outrage from both sets of players and coaching staff in a 10-minute spell which saw a further five yellow cards dished out. Leon boss Nicolas Larcamon and Club America manager Fernando Ortiz were sent off, however.
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Having reviewed the incident again, the Liga MX disciplinary body has judged that Hernandez will face a mammoth 12-game ban as a result. A statement read: "Fernando Hernandez Gomez, center referee of the match, is sanctioned by the Disciplinary Committee with a 12-game suspension for engaging in violent conduct against a player."
The highly-tempered affair ended up finishing 2-2 in Mexico. Former Arsenal star Joel Campbell scored a last-minute equaliser for Leon as they continued their push for a CONCACAF Champions League spot.
Larcamon and Ortiz have also been given a two-match touch-line ban for being sent off and their involvement in the mass brawl. Bigger sanctions could be handed in future if a similar event occurs again.
The referee has been handed a 12-game banA similar incident happened back in January 2018 in Ligue 1. Tony Chapron was handed a six-month ban from refereeing after he kicked Nantes' Diego Carlos during a game against Paris Saint-Germain.
It occurred as Chapron was running back towards goal as Kylian Mbappe burst away. However, the referee was accidently tripped by Carlos, leaving him on the ground.
Instead of staying calm and patient, Chapron reacted furiously. He decided to kick out at Carlos and almost injure the defender in the process. Chaos broke on the pitch as both sets of players surrounded the referee.
Bizarrely, Chapron then decided to give Carlos a second yellow card and sent him off, despite being kicked and tackled by the referee. That proved to be the referee's final game as he was banned for six months and hasn't returned since. He now works in the French media.
"I didn't want to kick him," Chapron told the BBC's World Football Podcast in November 2018. "It's a pity because I finished my career on this game, on this situation. It's difficult to accept after being a referee for 1,500 matches because in the moment it was just reflex."