Overview
- The Comisión de Árbitros reviewed the footage and chose not to sanction Santander, confirming him to officiate the Toluca vs. Monterrey semifinal second leg.
- The clip, shared by ex-referee Fernando “El Cantante” Guerrero, shows Santander working an amateur llanera match, with the date and location not verified.
- Criticism focused on potential injury and availability risks so close to the Liguilla, as well as the optics for professional standards in Mexican refereeing.
- Officials and reports noted there is no explicit ban in current FMF rules on outside officiating when it does not conflict with assignments or violate the code of ethics.
- The incident has intensified calls for clearer guidelines on referees’ external activities and for stronger safety protocols around non-professional matches.