Orlando City complaint after loss to Messi and Miami reflects broader distrust of match officials

 

Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Orlando City’s formal protest over the officiating in their Leagues Cup semi-final defeat to Inter Miami, although falling on deaf ears, reflects a growing trend in modern football where clubs are increasingly prepared to officially challenge referees.

Entering the fray was Walter López, the Guatemalan referee. López is a FIFA-listed official who has overseen World Cup qualifiers and the Concacaf Gold Cup. But his reputation isn’t without friction, most notably for a last-minute penalty awarded against Costa Rica and a “ghost goal” given to Panama in the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers, respectively.

Against Orlando City, López wielded his whistle with relish, dishing out seven yellow cards and two reds, one post-match to their captain, Robin Jansson. Orlando’s subsequent appeal failed, and their players were suspended for the third-place match, which they lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Their frustration isn’t about one game, though it’s about officials accountability in matches where decisions can have ramifications beyond the match itself through the loss of ticket, broadcast and sponsorship revenue along with team morale.

Nor is this an isolated example. Clubs have always grumbled about officials, but we’re now witnessing a more institutional response. Complaints like Orlando’s are a warning sign because teams expect transparency and consistency. In response, organising bodies must decide whether to brush it off or battle in the grey areas of perceptions of bias and irregularity.