Scarlett Camberos Blames Refereeing After América’s Controversial Draw Against Tijuana in Liga MX Femenil

Refereeing controversy surfaced from the very first matchday of the Clausura 2026 Liga MX Femenil season after Club América’s draw against Club Tijuana, a game defined by the red card shown to Scarlett Camberos and several officiating decisions that angered the blue-and-yellow side.

The match was played at Estadio Caliente and sparked intense reactions both on and off the pitch, especially due to the performance of the officials in a league that still operates without VAR. Referee Erika Montserrat González sent off Scarlett Camberos after issuing two yellow cards. The first booking came in the 25th minute when the forward committed an off-the-ball foul on Kader Hancar.

Later, in the 68th minute, Camberos stepped on Michel Fong near the ankle. The referee immediately sanctioned the play and left América down to ten players for the final stretch of the match. After the game, Scarlett Camberos shared a photo on social media showing a visible wound on her thigh, accompanied by the caption, “Anyway…”.

Although Camberos did not directly criticize the officials, fans interpreted the post as a sign of frustration with the refereeing standards applied during the match. The controversy went beyond the red card incident. In the 18th minute, Isa Haas suffered a heavy blow to the face during a set-piece situation, causing a nosebleed that required immediate medical attention from América’s staff.

So far, the club has not released an official medical report, though some reports suggest a possible fracture. Video footage shows Kader Hancar jumping and striking the Brazilian defender in the face with her elbow, an action that América supporters believe should have resulted in a red card.

The draw in Tijuana left América dissatisfied not only with the result, but also with officiating that once again took center stage at the start of the season. Refereeing standards and the ongoing absence of VAR remain key issues in the development of Liga MX Femenil.