Nahuel Guzman, the 40-year-old goalkeeper for Tigres, was dismissed in the dying moments of the Leagues Cup match against Vancouver Whitecaps, which ended in a 1-1 draw and resulted in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory for Tigres. The incident occurred when Guzman, frustrated, shoved Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton.
In a surprising move during the first of five minutes of stoppage time, Guzman sprinted approximately 40 meters with the ball after making a save, aiming to resume the game quickly as the score was tied. However, after setting the ball at the center of the pitch and incurring Barton’s interference, he forcibly pushed the referee, which led to his immediate red card.
Guzman’s Ejection Leaves Tigres at a Disadvantage
This dismissal came just three minutes after his teammate Diego Lainez had also been shown a red card, leaving Tigres with only nine players on the field. Barton, who made history as the first referee to send off a player for violating the new rule against covering one’s mouth during discussions, had just awarded a free kick to the host team before Guzman’s outburst.
Despite being reduced in numbers, Tigres managed to proceed to the next round after backup goalkeeper Carlos Rodriguez, who replaced Guzman, saved three penalties during the shootout.
Controversy Surrounding Guzman’s Conduct
Commentators expressed disbelief at Guzman’s actions during the live broadcast, stating, “This is a mistake. He saw the referee, looked sideways, and pushed Barton. He must respect the referee. What was he trying to accomplish? I would like to understand why he acted this way. A player with such experience should not behave like this!”
Following the red card, Guzman displayed his frustration by throwing chairs and bottles as he left the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey. He had recently served a seven-match suspension for insulting officials during the Champions Cup final against Toluca, and the disciplinary committee of the Leagues Cup is expected to impose further sanctions on him for this latest incident.
