Concacaf suspends Ortiz for 6 months for Messi's autograph

▲ Marco Antonio Ortiz was also involved in the controversy when he scored a penalty in the América-Cruz Azul final (in the image). Photo by Víctor Camacho

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a10

According to the Concacaf Referees Commission, the conduct of Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz, when he requested an autograph from Argentine Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, during the Champions Cup match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, was not typical of a professional official with a FIFA badge. The investigation opened against him by regional authorities resulted in a six-month suspension from World Cup qualifying matches on the road to 2026, the Gold Cup and the qualifying tournament for the Club World Cup.

According to the file, the images that circulated on television are not aligned with the codes of ethics and conduct established by the Confederation. The referee accepted his error, apologized for the incident and accepted the disciplinary actions applied against him , CONCACAF reported on Thursday at the beginning of the process. Ortiz, also accused in the final of a year ago in the Liga MX for marking the penalty that gave America the title against Cruz Azul, approached Messi without realizing that he was being recorded.

According to his testimony, the referee requested an autograph for a family member with special needs , the commission said in reference to information gathered since the Copa match. Sporting Kansas City presented the case to Concacaf with video evidence. Although the series with Inter Miami is still open (1-0 overall), the club's directors denounced the existence of perfectly measured and organized behavior by the Mexican referee after the end of the action at the old Sporting Park, where the Argentine star scored the winning goal.

Ortiz, nicknamed El Gato , has already been notified of the punishment and will limit his participation to Liga MX matches and other confederations, if required. For the round of matches corresponding to the 9th date of the regular phase, the Referees Commission of the Mexican Football Federation removed the former international from the appointments announced this Tuesday and Wednesday. Since the former soccer player and manager Juan Manuel Herrera arrived at the general direction of the referees' union in October, the work processes complicated the permanence of instructors, former presidents and professionals who aspired to direct the 2026 World Cup.

Visceral and unthought decisions

Some referees did not agree with Armando Archundia leaving, but it was a decision that had been made. He only stayed a few more days to calm the waters , said a source within the organisation, where Chilean FIFA instructor Enrique Osses also decided not to renew his contract to remain in office. Maybe I was not politically correct at some point, but I do not regret it. Sometimes some are not prepared to listen to a person express their views on situations that can be improved , added World Cup player in Qatar 2022 Fernando Guerrero, who was removed for questioning a series of visceral and ill-considered decisions within the commission.

Last January, still reeling from the second leg of the América-Cruz Azul final and the penalty that won the championship for the Águilas, Marco Antonio Ortiz from Durango received a warning from the organization when he gave an interview in which he gave details of his decision and contradicted the versions that circulated against him.

It was a penalty for America, this one and the previous one. There have already been two tournaments with the same thing, the same tendency. We have to change it and find another excuse, another villain , said the referee. One of the former members of the union, the former World Cup player Felipe Ramos Rizo, maintains that the behavior of the so-called Gato caused annoyance among the referees and a warning, because at this moment they are not prepared to go around offering interviews .

In an image that circulated virally on social media, Ortiz was captured in a car dealership days after that final in May 2024, after he suffered a traffic accident and lost one of his mirrors , according to his story.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a10

Raúl Uriel Silva, former captain of the American football team of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), was identified in the images that circulated on television on Saturday, during the Liga Mx Pumas-América match, as the aggressor of two people – among them a woman – who had injuries and wounds on their faces in one of the lower areas of the Olympic University stadium.

The former member of Burros Blancos del Politécnico of the Onefa Major League, wearing shorts and a shirt representing the Eagles, threw punches from the left and right for several minutes while the two feline fans tried to protect themselves on their seats.

The secretary of educational services of the IPN, Marco Antonio Sosa, stated in a statement that the conduct of Silva, who finished his eligibility in 2024, does not represent the values ​​of the institution or the spirit of fair play that we promote in all our sports disciplines .

The aggression became apparent to the authorities towards the end of the match. The security force reported a total of eight detainees, who were placed at the disposal of the civic court. Liga MX reported that the main person responsible for the violent acts committed in the stands was fully identified and his Fan ID was blocked indefinitely.

“In accordance with security protocols and in strict compliance with current regulations, all information regarding this person – whose name is omitted by legal provision – will be forwarded to Club Universidad Nacional in response to their public request for information,” the tournament's statement said.

Silva, who played with jersey number 28 of the guindas, attended the capital derby wearing a different outfit than that of his school, but although he did not officially represent our team in that match, the people who wear the IPN shield have the responsibility to conduct themselves with honor, respect and discipline at all times , stressed the Polytechnic director.

Hundreds of users on social media provided details about the former Burros Blancos linebacker's involvement in the brawl.

He deliberately and advantageously assaulted a Pumas fan who was only protecting his sister , they reported.

▲ The Norwegian-French game was delayed for 40 minutes due to lighting problems. Photo Afp

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a11

Amid blackouts at the GNP Arena, Casper Ruud, second seed at the Mexican Tennis Open, advanced to the second round of the tournament by beating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech with scores of 6-4 and 6-3.

The runner-up of the 2024 tournament struggled more than expected, against an opponent who faced the match without complexes and put the world number five in trouble.

Fortunately I was able to correct my game because the start of the match was not the best for me. The power failure helped me to recover my level of play and control of the scoreboard , said Ruud.

Casper started at a slow pace and lost his first serve. Rinderknech did not give up any ground and went ahead 2-0.

The Norwegian won the next game, but his opponent did not lose the advantage and increased the score to 3-1. The match was stopped for 10 minutes due to the second power failure.

Arthur, 29 and world number 61, pushed Ruud to 4-4, but the Norwegian fought back to take the set 6-4.

The Grand Slam finalist's true level emerged in the second set. Although the Frenchman kept the pressure on The Iceman , he was unable to stop the Norwegian's aggressive, backhanded play, which sealed his victory with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

"I'm very happy to be here again after reaching the final in 2024. I started slowly, but I stopped an opponent who made the game very difficult for me. We'll wait for my second-round opponent and rest tomorrow ," Casper added after one hour and 42 minutes of play.

Ruud, 26, has 12 ATP singles titles to his name and has reached Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros (2022 and 2023) and the 2022 US Open. While his best performance has been on clay, his game has evolved on other surfaces, as demonstrated at the Laver Cup and in his recent final in Dallas, played on hard courts.

I lacked a bit of concentration and I have to improve the rest of the week if I want to go far. To get the title I have to eliminate everything that doesn't let me play at my best level , Casper concluded.

The player arrived in Acapulco after losing to David Goffin in the semifinals of the UTS in Guadalajara.

Mexico is one of my favorite places to play , he concluded.

In other results, Tomas Machac defeated Jakub Mensik 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, while Daniel Altmaier won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Miomir Kecmanovic.

Zverev and Pacheco are presented

German Alexander Zverev, ranked second in the world and number one seed in Acapulco, will make his debut today against Italian Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 34th in the world.

The 2021 champion arrives at the port after poor performances on the South American tour, losing in the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

Also playing their first game will be American Tommy Paul and Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco.

Acapulco is one of my favorite tournaments because of the warmth of the fans. I hope to make it to the final because that would motivate me for the next matches. Last year I didn't do well, I hope that won't happen again , Zverev said at the media day.

The Mexican Open is a 500 category tournament and awards 1.8 million dollars in prizes.

▲ Alejandra Estudillo achieved sixth place during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo Ap

Adriana Diaz Reyes

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a11

In the last six months, Alejandra Estudillo's life has taken a radical turn: from planning her vacation in July 2024, the diver emerged as one of the figures to follow on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and became a scholarship student at the University of Texas.

"The sixth place I achieved in Paris changed my plans. Suddenly I had the opportunity of a lifetime and I think I made the most of it. My mentality after becoming an Olympic selection changed and my passion for diving became stronger. Studying in the United States is also a dream that I achieved sooner than expected ," said Estudillo.

The 19-year-old from Chiapas has made such technical progress that she was chosen as the partner of the experienced Gaby Agúndez in the synchronized 10-meter platform event. The duo has not yet trained together, but they plan to meet regularly to seek their fifth Olympic medal in synchronized diving.

Competing with someone like her is a great step forward in my career. If they considered me it is because I have done things well and I am a disciplined athlete. Although Gaby has more international achievements than me, I think we will get along well. In the coming weeks we will agree on how to prepare for the World Cups.

Alejandra not only competes in the 10-meter jump, she has also achieved important results in the three-meter springboard, such as the silver obtained a few days ago in the United States Collegiate Championship where Olympian Aranza Vázquez participated.

"I love competing on the platform and jumping from the top, it's an adrenaline rush that can't be compared to anything, but I've also achieved good results in the three-meter event. In the coming weeks I'm going to think carefully about how to organize my next competitions ," said Estudillo, a representative of the Longhorns.

The small and inexperienced Alejandra who competed in the Paris Olympics is a thing of the past. The new version of the Argentine has more ambitious goals and new dreams, both in the individual and synchronized events.

The result in France showed me that I can compete under pressure and measure myself against the best in the world. This new stage with Gaby excites me and even more so when I imagine that we will be able to debut as a couple in the World Cup that will take place in April, in Guadalajara. Good things are coming, the goal is not to lose the category that Mexican divers have at the international level.

▲ The Japanese won by knockout in the third round . Photo Ap

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a12

David Cuellar, nicknamed El General , lost his first fight. He traveled to Japan to fight for the World Boxing Council bantamweight title, but the defender was a real problem, the Japanese Junto Nakatani, who defended with the authority expected and knocked him out in three rounds at the Ariake arena in the city of Tokyo. It is the first defeat for the 23-year-old born in Querétaro.

Cuellar said before this experience in Asia that it was the fight of his dreams. It meant the opportunity that every boxer yearns for to fight for a world championship. Regardless of what traveling to Japan entails, where the challengers have recognized that making these trips is already offering an advantage to the locals, El General set out on the route to the most difficult test of his career.

He called it his dream fight because, if he won, it would mean entering the elite of boxing and therefore aspiring to greater earnings in the future.

But he faced a devastating champion, with titles in three divisions and who has won all four of his bantamweight fights, including the victory over Cuéllar by technical knockout.

With this background, it was clear that Nakatani is a candidate to dominate the bantamweight category and has expressed his ambition to seek other belts, from the WBO, WBA and IBF, all defended by Japanese.

For two rounds, Cuéllar exchanged blows with the tireless champion, quick combinations that foreshadowed a close and emotional duel.

Cuellar wanted to show that he was brave and fast. However, the champion, with a left-handed guard, kept him away with a very effective jab to gain distance and add more force to his surprising left, which whizzed past the Mexican on several occasions.

Until the second episode, the compatriot had glimpses of being a tough contender, although he was alert for the counterattack, the danger was perceived. When attacking, Cuéllar let his guard down and was at the mercy of that enemy left hand that continually brushed his face.

Nakatani is a tough and complex fighter and in the third round he gave Cuéllar no more respite; he punished him in the body to make him neglect the area of ​​the face. Then he struck with speed and finally landed a left hand to the jaw of the Mexican, knocking him down. The General got up to continue the fight, but was again surprised by the Japanese's left, which put him against the ropes and ended up falling back to the canvas. Sitting and confused, he tried to get up, but he looked really outmatched.

Referee Michael Griffin looked at him with compassion and did not allow the fight to continue. The Mexican lowered his head and stood up using the ropes as if they were a ladder to get out of a deep hole, where his dream of becoming a champion was destroyed early Monday morning in Japan.

The Independent

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a12

London. The official Formula One pre-season tests will take place once again in Bahrain from tomorrow to next Friday, while expectations are mounting ahead of the 2025 season, the first in 14 years without the presence of Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, who ended his relationship with Red Bull in 2024.

Bahrain has held the event every year since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the season-opener usually held at the International Circuit in Sakhir.

However, this year, Albert Park in Australia will once again host the first race of the season, something that has not happened since 2019.

The series opener will also be Lewis Hamilton's first race for Ferrari, on March 16.

This means the 20 drivers will have two weeks from three-day pre-season testing to fine-tune the details ahead of another record-breaking 24-race calendar.

The official pre-season tests will take place between tomorrow and Friday 28th.

Following the line of previous years, the track will be open nine hours a day, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to test the cars, make adjustments and get them ready for the start of the season.

Each team has two drivers, so they have two options: give one driver a full day of racing or split the sessions between the two. Either way, barring injury, illness or car breakdown, each driver will have 12 hours in the car over the three days.

The big expectation will be Lewis Hamilton's debut with Ferrari after his stint with Mercedes, the team that presented its W 16 car. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will drive the car in a shakedown in Bahrain on Tuesday.

Russell said he will know within five laps of testing whether he can win this year's world championship. The Mercedes driver, who is entering his fourth year with the team but his first without Hamilton as a teammate, finished sixth in last year's standings; however, he has won two races, in Austria and Las Vegas.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli joins Russell this year, but having joined the once-great Silver Arrows just after their period of dominance ended in 2021, the 27-year-old will be hoping for a car capable of challenging McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull at the front this year.

I think you know in five laps whether you're in for a good season or not , Russell said.

In the last two years, we knew from the first five laps that we weren't going to fight for the championship. This season has been much more solid.

Russell was involved in a heated dispute with four-time world champion Max Verstappen at the end of last year in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but the British driver looked to cool things down ahead of the new campaign.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launch events held in England after being booed in London at F1 75 Live last week.

▲ In a close match, American Shelton advanced to the next phase. Photo Afp

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a27

American Ben Shelton rarely forgives. In the first round of the Mexican Tennis Open in Acapulco, the 22-year-old tennis player knocked down all the walls that Italian Flavio Cobolli put in his way in the match and achieved a victory on the edge in two sets 6(4)-(7)7 and 6(4)-(7)7 to advance to the next phase at the GNP Arena.

Shelton endured a test of fire. Facing a complex and dizzying serve from Cobolli, the youngster, considered among the rising jewels of this sport, showed his dominance on break points and did not give in to the pressure of the game. He rarely broke the Italian's serve, but he took advantage of his speed to overcome each challenge that he imposed on him during the night.

With the first set in the bag after a close series of shots, Shelton momentarily lost his balance. Cobolli's responses and movements at the net hurt him. That caused the second period to go to sudden death again, where the Italian looked for his weakest side.

Although there were some difficult situations, including several unforced errors, the American finished off his performance with the power that characterizes his style of play: he moved from one place to another and did not fail when his opponent was physically exhausted. The victory takes him to the next round of the tournament, with a public that gave itself to him and applauded his effort despite the high temperatures of the court.