March 14 – Two South American players with top Mexican clubs have been banned for a year by the country’s FA following a review of lesser punishments which sparked a referees strike.
The strike took place last weekend after the referees union announced their members would be walking out in a protest over what they felt were lenient punishments for two players concerned.
Pablo Aguilar had earned a ten-match ban for his assault on an official while Enrique Triverio was initially hit with an eight-game suspension.
Aguilar attempted to head butt referee Fernando Hernandez and screamed insults at him after America lost 1-0 to Tijuana in a Copa MX match. Triverio pushed and insulted referee Miguel Flores in Toluca’s defeat by Morelia.
The Mexican federation announced the new suspensions after its Disciplinary Committee reviewed the earlier sanctions. Neither player can appeal and the suspensions apply worldwide.
“The Appeals Committee has decided to revoke the sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Committee on 10 March 2017 with regard to the players Enrique Triverio and Pablo Aguilar,” an FMF statement said. “In their place, it has decided to sanction the players with a year’s suspension.”
The referees immediately called off their strike ahead of quarter-finals in the Copa MX, a knockout competition played by first and second division clubs.
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