Referee and VAR Suspended After Controversial Rayados vs América Quarterfinal First Leg

América left the Gigante de Acero angry and frustrated. The first leg of the Apertura Quarterfinals was overshadowed by refereeing decisions that infuriated the players, coaching staff, and fans. América argued that the officiating damaged the integrity of the match — especially after two heavy challenges by Jesús Corona and Ricardo Chávez went unpunished with red cards.

Central referee Jesús López and the VAR team have now been suspended for the remainder of the Liguilla. The decision came after a review of their performance in Monterrey, where multiple controversial incidents dictated the tone of the game and left América demanding fairness. Head coach André Jardine called the officiating a “disgrace,” saying the match was clearly influenced by a lack of strictness on actions that, in his view, warranted expulsion. The América front office echoed that sentiment and formally requested a revision of the officiating criteria used in Liguilla matches.

Among fans, the resolution sparked debate. Some applauded the suspension, while others argued that the punishment arrived too late and doesn’t change what happened in the first leg. Still, the series remains wide open, and América will look to respond in the return leg to keep their title run alive. After the game, former referees reviewed the incidents and agreed that Jesús Corona should have been sent off for a dangerous midfield tackle. Francisco Chacón was particularly harsh, stating that VAR “failed in the basics” and that the video angles clearly showed a direct-red offense.

Rayados, meanwhile, stayed focused on the advantage they earned. Monterrey now heads to Mexico City looking to finish the job, while América must push forward aggressively to mount a comeback at home. The second leg promises maximum intensity — América hoping to overturn the controversy with results on the pitch, and Rayados looking to assert their superiority and secure a place in the semifinals.