During Monday night’s Copa America match between the United States Men’s National Team and Uruguay, referee Kevin Ortega drew a lot of criticism for the way he managed the match, and USMNT captain Chrisitan Pulisic did not hold back in criticizing him during his postgame press conference.
During the match, Ortega made a number of perplexing if not completely incorrect calls. Ortega awarded a yellow card to USMNT player Tyler Adams when he was stepped on by an opponent, failed to play advantage for the USMNT in a counter-attacking opportunity, and failed to stop the match while awarding a yellow card which nearly led to a Uruguay goal. And those were just a few of the controversial moments.
After the match, Christian Pulisic absolutely blasted Ortega as he said that he had never seen anything like the way Ortega officiated the game on Monday night – although he was quick to point out that the official was not the reason the USMNT lost the match.
“Honestly, I mean I saw things that I’ve never seen before right in front of my eyes today that I just I truly I can’t believe,” Pulisic told reporters. “It’s not why we lost; we’re not out of this tournament because of officiating.
“But really, I’ve just seen things that I just really — I mean I think everyone can just give admit I don’t know what I’m looking at. I don’t know what they’re calling. I don’t know what he’s — he gives no explanation. He’s doing things that I just can’t accept.”
After the match, Pulisic approached the referee and tried to shake his hand – a normal practice after matches – but Ortega refused.
“He wouldn’t shake my hand. It’s normal — I mean, I guess,” Pulisic said.
Needless to say, Pulisic was not happy.
[ESPN]
