FIFA, CONCACAF, and the Mexican Football Federation have condemned death threats against referee Katia Itzel Garcia following a controversial Leagues Cup match between Monterrey and FC Cincinnati.
FIFA and CONCACAF have condemned the death threats directed at Mexican referee Katia Itzel Garcia after her involvement in the Leagues Cup match between Monterrey and FC Cincinnati, which ended 3-2 in favor of the MLS side. Garcia, who officiated the match, was harassed online after a controversial offside call that resulted in a Cincinnati goal following a VAR review.
The 32-year-old referee shared screenshots of the disturbing messages on Instagram, which included threats to kill Garcia and her family. This prompted a wave of support from global football organizations, with FIFA, CONCACAF, and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) publicly standing by her.
What Garcia Said
Garcia, in her social media post, shared the chilling messages, including one that said: “You’re going to die… We’re the ones in charge in Mexico, so don’t hide too much… There’s no date that’s unfulfilled, no word that’s unfulfilled.” Another message read, “We’re going to kill your entire family.”
In response, Garcia posted an emotional statement via Instagram, rejecting violence in all forms: “In Mexico, a country where 10 women are murdered every day, where 91 people are murdered every day (men and women), we cannot normalize violence.”
Support from Football Organizations
Following the threats, Garcia received strong backing from FIFA, CONCACAF, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), and her club Monterrey. FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement emphasizing the need to protect referees in football.
“Without referees, there is no soccer, so we must protect them and respect their role in our sport,” Infantino said. “At FIFA, we stand in solidarity with the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol and CONCACAF to condemn the actions of those who make these unacceptable threats. We offer our unconditional support so that those responsible are held accountable.”
Monterrey also condemned the violence, calling for a cultural shift to reject such aggression: “The aggressions, such as those recently denounced by the Mexican referee Katia Itzel Garcia, and any other type of manifestation of violence, are inadmissible, and we must all make them visible, denounce them, reject them, and avoid normalizing them.”
The FMF echoed these sentiments in a statement, reaffirming their support for Garcia and confirming their commitment to assisting her throughout the complaint process.
What’s Next for Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup action continues, with FC Cincinnati facing Chivas de Guadalajara and Monterrey taking on Charlotte FC as both teams finish this phase of the competition.
