Mexican referee is BANNED for 12 games for violent conduct after he lost his cool and KNEED a player in the groin after being hounded during Liga MX clash
- Fernando Hernandez seemed to knee Lucas Romero after a demand to use VAR
- The Mexican Football Federation confirmed an investigation had been launched
- Hernandez has subsequently been banned for 12 games for 'violent conduct'
Mexican referee Fernando Hernandez has been banned for 12 games after he kneed a Leon player in the groin during a league match on Sunday.
Midfielder Lucas Romero and his Leon team-mates had appealed to the referee to demand a VAR review, after Club America had scored a controversial equaliser in their Liga MX match.
Hernandez, who had booked Romero's team-mate, appeared to raise his knee into the midfielder's groin after being confronted by the player. The action led to Romero falling to the ground.
After the Mexican Football Federation confirmed an investigation had been launched following the incident, a Liga MX disciplinary committee announced the punishment for Hernandez on Tuesday.
In a statement they said: 'Fernando Hernandez Gomez, referee of the match [Club America vs. Leon], is sanctioned by the Disciplinary Committee with a 12-game suspension, for violating Article 30, paragraph g) of the FMF's [Mexican Football Federation] Regulation of Sanctions, by engaging in violent conduct against a player.'
![Mexican referee Fernando Hernandez appeared to knee Leon player Lucas Romero in the groin](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/05/10/69414805-11940993-Mexican_referee_Fernando_Hernandez_appeared_to_knee_Leon_player_-a-5_1680687659975.jpg)
Mexican referee Fernando Hernandez appeared to knee Leon player Lucas Romero in the groin
![Hernandez has subsequently been banned for 12 games by a Liga MX disciplinary committee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/05/10/69414821-11940993-Hernandez_has_subsequently_been_banned_for_12_games_by_a_Liga_MX-a-6_1680687659975.jpg)
Hernandez has subsequently been banned for 12 games by a Liga MX disciplinary committee
In a high-tempered game, both teams managers - Nicolas Larcamon and Fernando Ortiz - were sent off after a clash, while six yellows were shown during 10 chaotic second half minutes.
The disciplinary committee also revealed Romero had received a two-game ban for 'violating the principles of sportsmanship and fair play, through actions towards match officials', while Larcamon and Ortiz were handed two-game suspensions for 'violent conduct'.
Following the game, the Mexican Football Federation had said: 'The Referees Commission informs that an investigation process will be opened into the events that occurred with the referee Fernando Hernández in the América vs. León [match], corresponding to Matchday 13 of the Liga MX. The resolution will be released to public opinion.'
Romero had originally called for the official to avoid punishment, with Hernandez having told him the incident was 'unintentional'.
'Obviously [referees] are human beings, many times they can make mistakes and those mistakes end up developing what happened, a lot of misunderstandings,' Romero told Mexican broadcaster TUDN.
![The disciplinary committee found Fernandez (left) guilty of 'violent conduct' for his actions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/05/10/69498807-11940993-The_disciplinary_committee_found_Fernandez_left_guilty_of_violen-a-7_1680687659976.jpg)
The disciplinary committee found Fernandez (left) guilty of 'violent conduct' for his actions
![Ex-Arsenal attacker Joel Campbell scored a last minute equaliser in the high-tempered game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/05/10/69498823-11940993-Ex_Arsenal_attacker_Joel_Campbell_scored_a_last_minute_equaliser-a-4_1680687659973.jpg)
Ex-Arsenal attacker Joel Campbell scored a last minute equaliser in the high-tempered game
'I'm not asking for anything [any form of punishment], he told me it was unintentional.
'But just that they also respect us as we respect them on the pitch because they are the authority.'
The match ended in a 2-2 draw with Leon scoring a last minute equaliser through former Arsenal player Joel Campbell.
The result keeps Leon third in the table, one point clear of fourth placed Club America.
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