Overview
- Video from the match at La Corregidora on Saturday, August 1 shows Querétaro defender Paulo Victor kicking the ball after play had stopped and the ball striking referee Katia Itzel in the face.
- Itzel appeared shaken on the pitch but remained standing and completed the game without needing prolonged medical attention.
- Former referee and analyst Francisco Chacón condemned Paulo Victor’s action and criticized Itzel’s handling of the incident while some public commentary crossed into misogynistic and xenophobic attacks.
- As of August 4 neither the Comisión de Árbitros, Liga MX nor the Comisión Disciplinaria has announced an official investigation or sanction, and the circulating video remains the main public evidence.
- Itzel’s status as a FIFA‑listed, World Cup‑appointed referee has heightened scrutiny and the episode could shape discussions about how leagues protect officials and assess intent in on‑field incidents.