“That WrestleMania Spirit” – Shocking Footage Catches Soccer Referee Kneeing a Player on Purpose, Leaving Fans in Disbelief

Soccer is a game of emotions that not only get reactions from the fans but also from the players on the pitch. Especially when the game is a crucial one, players give it their all and it is natural to see emotions burst. It sometimes negatively results in brawls between opposing players. Fans have witnessed many such incidents where players lose it and end up attacking referees or opposing players.

But what if the referees lose their cool? That is what happened in the game between Club America and Club Leon in Liga MX. On-field referee Fernando Hernandez did something unexpected during the game that might result in the referee getting punished by the federation. The incident has left fans in disbelief drawing wild reactions.

Soccer fans react to the referee hitting the player with a knee

A video from the Mexican league game on Sunday emerged on social media. It shows Club Leon players surrounding the referee, angrily demanding the VAR review for the Club America goal. Leon midfielder Lucas Romero went too close to the referee, and the footage showed the referee hitting the player with his knee. 

Fans since then reacted to the footage, with many believing the action of the referee right. They felt the player went too close to the referee and then dived into embarrassment after the referee hit him with the knee. Here are some reactions from the fans.

Mexican League – Referee hits a player on purpose with his knee
by u/porygon3000 in soccer

One user took a historical dig, saying, “Referee in that WrestleMania spirit.”

Another user questioned, Am I missing something here? I see a player chest bumping a referee, the referee trying to take a normal step forward, and then the player going down like he’s been shot.”

One user came in support of the referee, saying, “Oh, come on. He pushed him with his knee, at worst. I would do the same if a player was in my face like that.”

In the same vein, another user said, “If a player is standing that close to a ref, he needs to be pushed away. And then diving to the floor like he was shot. Embarrassing.”

Meanwhile, one user said, “The referee shouldn’t do this, but the player shouldn’t be that close in the first place. Any punishment handed to referee should be given to the player as well.”

“The whole team was crowding him. He had a right to clear some space,” said another.

Lastly, one user sympathized with soccer referees, saying, “About time refs start defending themselves.”

Mexico Football Federation (FMF) launched an investigation after the video emerged. FMF will reportedly make the results of the investigation public after its completion. Despite being kneed by the referee, the player completed the entire game, following the incident. Romero made a valuable contribution during the game that saw Leon scoring a 94th-minute equalizer to grab a crucial point.

Read More: Horrific Footage Catches Soccer Star’s Car Flying Through Air, Crashing Into Sports Hall, Just 11 Seconds After Children Finished Training

What is your take on the referee’s action? Let us know in the comments below. 

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