The Copa America 2024 Group C clash between host nation USA and Uruguay concluded with a 1-0 victory for La Celeste, but the match was overshadowed by questionable refereeing decisions, particularly involving match official Kevin Ortega. Following the final whistle, USA captain Christian Pulisic approached the officials for the customary handshake, but Ortega notably refused the gesture. This incident was highlighted by FS1, showing a clip of the referee declining to shake hands with Pulisic. When asked about the referee’s performance after the game, Pulisic cautiously responded, “Yeah, there is a lot. I don’t want to talk much about the referee. It does get frustrating but that’s what this tournament is about. We just have to do our best to cope with it.” The hosts’ elimination was confirmed after Monday’s match as they needed to defeat Uruguay to advance to the quarterfinals. Panama’s victory over Bolivia further compounded the USA’s woes. While the exact conversation between Pulisic and Ortega remains unclear, media reports suggest Pulisic was gesturing for the referee to conclude the celebrations of the Uruguayan players. Ortega’s decisions were repeatedly called into question throughout the match. In one instance, he initiated a yellow card and halted play, but then allowed the game to resume – still holding the card – as Uruguay narrowly missed a scoring opportunity. This incident occurred in the 32nd minute and attracted significant criticism from commentators. Another instance of controversial refereeing arose when the USA gained a clear advantage after a handball by Uruguay. However, the Peruvian referee ultimately blew his whistle and awarded a free kick to Uruguay for an infringement that occurred outside the USA’s penalty box. While not directly involving Ortega, this incident further exemplified the overall quality of officiating during the game. Uruguay’s goal arrived in the 66th minute when Nicolás De La Cruz’s free kick found Ronald Araújo, who outjumped defender Tim Ream to head the ball towards goal. Matt Turner, the USA goalkeeper, parried the header, but the rebound fell to Mathias Olivera, who swiftly volleyed the ball into the net with his left foot. Despite Olivera appearing to be offside during the initial header, the goal was upheld following a video review.
Referee’s Actions Spark Controversy After USA’s Copa America Elimination
