Nahuel Guzmán crossed a line. Was his punishment too soft?
Liga MX Week in Review
Sordid tales and locker-room rumors
The penultimate weekend of the Liga MX season is upon us and five playoff spots are still up for grabs. But off-the-field stories dominated the headlines leading into Matchday 16.
In what might be the biggest scandal of the year, the Liga MX Disciplinary Committee handed down an 11-game suspension to Tigres goalie Nahuel Guzmán.
The enigmatic Argentine — currently sidelined after knee surgery — attended Saturday’s “Clásico Regiomontano” at Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA Bancomer, occupying a spot in a luxury box. During the second half of the match, Guzmán was spotted shining a laser into the face of Rayados goalie Esteban Andrada.
The Tigres star was escorted out of the stadium, eventually offered a half-hearted apology, and the ensuing investigation resulted in the above-mentioned sanctions which include an undisclosed fine as well as an unspecified number of hours of community service.
Although the punishment seems hefty, Liga MX officials announced that the suspension begins immediately. In other words, the 11-game ban will include matches he would have missed due to his injury.
Tigres had originally said he would be out through the semifinals should the Northern Giants get that far. If they do reach the Final Four, that would mean Guzmán will have “served” five matches of the 11-game ban.
Should they reach the final (an unlikely scenario, to be honest, but we’re just spit-balling here) that would mean Guzmán would only have to sit out the first four games next year. That makes it seem like more of a slap on the wrist.
In another less-than-savory incident from the same “Clásico Regio,” Tigres fans caught throwing cups of urine on Monterrey fans have been identified and have been hit with a lifetime ban. The culprits will be prohibited from attending matches at any Liga MX stadium.
‘Chicharito’ continues fitness battle
Chivas Nation is once again anxiously awaiting injury updates involving prodigal son Javier Hernández.
The Guadalajara striker has missed two of the club's past three games with assorted ailments, just as the team is making a late playoff push. "Chicharito" missed last week's match — a 1-0 win at Pachuca — after complaining about thigh soreness, an injury that has been identified as an adductor muscle strain.
"Chicharito" returned to the training field earlier this week, but has been limited to rehab exercises and his availability for Guadalajara's all-important clash with Querétaro is up on the air.
The Chivas are in 8th place with 25 points, even with Pachuca and Tigres but behind on goal differential. A win at home over the Gallos Blancos is necessary if "El Rebaño Sagrado" has any hopes of rising to 6th place and escaping the Play-In Tournament.
As things stand now, Guadalajara would face the 7th-place Tigres to claim the No. 7 seed in the quarterfinals. The loser of the 7-vs-8 play-in contest would then host the survivor of the 9-vs-10 game (Querétaro at UNAM, if the season ended today), with the winner claiming the No. 8 seed in the quarterfinals.
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A win would clinch a spot in the postseason for the Chivas, but if Guadalajara were to lose to Querétaro, they could be playing for their playoff life in the season finale at crosstown rivals Atlas.