Football
ESPN staff 7y

Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio gets six-match ban for Confed Cup protest

FIFA has announced that Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has been dealt a six-game suspension for protesting a controversial referee decision during Mexico's 2-1 loss to Portugal for Confederations Cup third place.

The ban means he will miss the Gold Cup. Mexico will have to play up to six games to retain the Gold Cup in the United States starting on Sunday when it debuts against El Salvador in San Diego.

Osorio was incensed when his team was not awarded a penalty against Portugal in their final Confed Cup match last Sunday.

FIFA said Osorio "used insulting words towards the match officials while displaying an aggressive attitude towards them.''

Should Mexico play fewer than six games at the Gold Cup, Osorio's suspension will carry over to the next international matches.

FIFA issued the following statement:

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has reached a decision in the case related to Mexico's national team coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, following the FIFA Confederations Cup match for third place between Portugal and Mexico on 2 July 2017, during which Mr Osorio used insulting words towards the match officials while displaying an aggressive attitude towards them.

"After taking into account all circumstances of the case, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that Mr Osorio is regarded as having breached article 49.1 a) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. As a result, and given the gravity of the incident, Mr Osorio is to be suspended for six official matches and has also been sanctioned with a warning and a fine of CHF 5,000 ($5,000).

"The decision, which has been duly notified today, comes into force immediately. Therefore, in line with art. 38 par. 2 c) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the sanction shall be served during the Mexican national team's next official matches, which will take place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2017.

"Depending on the stage at which the final match of the Mexican national team takes place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2017, any remaining matches of this six-match suspension shall be served during the national team's subsequent official matches."

In the incident, Hector Moreno appeared to be pushed by Pepe as he was about to head the ball in front of goal. The effort went wide, but Mexico appealed to the referee for a video replay.

When the incident was shown again on the big screen in the stadium, Mexico's coaching staff and substitutes protested. Their anger did not dissipate when the on-field officials refused to refer the decision and Osorio was sent to the stands for his protests.

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