Absolute Chaos! USA Soccer Match Suspended by Referee After Multiple Cards and Fights Unfold on the Pitch

The CONCACAF National League semi-final soccer game between the United States Men’s National Team and Mexico on Thursday at Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium concluded on a sour note. Despite winning the game 3-0, the US players did not have an easy time with it. Many disruptions, including extremely loud anti-gay chants by Mexico fans, ruined the game.

Soccer fans often use this tactic to distract, provoke, and enrage opposing team players, but usually, it is harmless and not so inflammatory. In this particular game, Mexican fans attacked US team goalkeeper Matt Turner with homophobic chants. Aside from that, the game was marred by several cards and fighting amongst the spectators and on the field.

The referee stopped the soccer match before time owing to disciplinary issues

Prior to the game’s end, referee Ivan Barton expelled Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest from the United States squad. As a result, both of these players will still be suspended for the final versus Canada. The referee also showed Mexico’s Cesar Montes and Gerardo Arteaga red cards.

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In the first instance, Montes viciously kicked out at Folarin Balogun after losing the ball to the American. A scuffle ensued involving Weston McKennie and the Mexican players. This forced the referee to pull the red card out for both McKennie and Montes.

Around the eighty-five-minute mark, another tussle broke out, this time between Sergino Dest and Gerardo Arteaga. The Mexican hit the ball against Dest to get a throw-in. With tensions already running high, that was all it took for the two players to have a go at each other. Consequently, the referee flashed two more red cards, leaving the game with just 18 players on the field. But that was not the end of the drama.

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According to ESPN, referee Ivan Barton was forced to stop the match four minutes early owing to repeated homophobic chants hurled by Mexican spectators. However, the Mexican fans continued their chants, targeted at the US goalie Matt Turner, even after the resumption of the match. Barton then abandoned and ended the match despite added on time still remaining on the clock.