Two Liga MX managers given walking papers already
FC Juárez jobbed in latest Liga MX refereeing disaster
It is becoming a familiar refrain, but only because it is so evident. Some Liga MX refs are incompetent, while others simply excel in mediocrity.
Oscar Macías’ mugshot should be posted in Liga MX headquarters, because he literally stole a game from FC Juárez on Sunday. To say the official was the protagonist is an understatement. Two Bravos players were ejected in the first half beginning in minute 6 (both calls were questionable), while another Bravo merited a red card but only saw yellow.
Then ref Macías awarded two penalties to the Pumas in the second half, neither of which deserved to be whistled. The first penalty stood up to video scrutiny (Lord knows how) and Carlos González converted it for a 1-0 lead. The second came in minute 89 but was overturned by VAR. However, by whistling the play dead instead of granting the advantage rule, Macías killed a clear scoring opportunity for the Pumas.
It was just over a year ago that Macías was suspended for two months after costing the Pumas a match because of a deplorable performance. One wonders if he had that in mind on Sunday, because he sure went out of his way to make sure he didn’t hurt the Pumas this time around. At least not until he did by prematurely calling the second invisible penalty.
At least we won’t see Macías in Matchday 4 as Liga MX officials did not give him a game assignment for the upcoming round of games.
On Friday, Jorge Isaac Rojas was in the spotlight after he seemed to be relying on VAR to call the game for him. Three times in the first half a bad foul occurred right in front of him and each time he demurred, apparently preferring that the officials in the booth make the call and let him know what they saw.
As a result, the ref allowed the flow and rhythm of the game to be interrupted because he had to stroll over to the video screen and check out the replay, then trot back onto the field and announce the determination. If an official is so unsure about fouls and violations, maybe he should not be on the field in the first place.