Referee Katia Itzel García reports death threats and cyberbullying

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 3, 2025, p. 9

Insults acquire a specific proportion over time. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, 31.1 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 29 who used the internet were victims of cyberbullying in the last 12 months. Mexican Katia Itzel García, a graduate of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences at UNAM, where she studied a degree in political science, has been a victim of cyberbullying since becoming a professional referee. The Monterrey-FC Cincinnati match played on Thursday in the first round of the Leagues Cup, marks the latest precedent in which the international referee reported receiving messages containing verbal abuse and death threats from alleged soccer fans.

In screenshots shared on social media, García recorded the harassment and attacks from the user @aldaiir_guzman19 , whose account was deleted without first having a profile picture, in which he blamed her for the defeat that Rayados suffered (3-2) against the American team. “In Mexico we are in charge, so don’t hide too much, you daughter of a b… we are going to dissolve you in acid”, You are going to die , There is no date that will not be fulfilled nor word that will not be followed , “We are going to kill your entire family, it was out of place, you daughter of your p… m…”.

García, the first woman to referee a Liga MX match since Virginia Tovar in the 2004 season, led the group of referees from the Mexican circuit participating in the binational tournament in the United States, as well as the 2025 Gold Cup and other international competitions. According to the FIFA Referees Committee, the 32-year-old referee, who has been working in amateur refereeing since 2015, is among the most highly qualified in CONCACAF for the next World Cup.

From the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Mexico, authorities insist that threats, harassment, and hate speech are not opinions, but gender-based violence , and therefore, defending a woman with a public voice also means defending the freedom of all women , the organization notes. We call on society not to allow digital violence against women and girls to continue. It is unacceptable; we cannot normalize it .

Through the Referees Commission, headed by former soccer player and executive Juan Manuel Herrero, the Mexican Football Federation supported García's work and pledged to advise and accompany the international referee in the process of filing a complaint with the appropriate authorities. "There is no place for violence or intimidation ," the official stressed in an institutional statement. Regarding CONCACAF, a confederation of which Mexico and the United States are members, the threats made against the referee forced the reinforcement of its protocols among its regional partners.

▲ The Mexican referee was harassed by fans who accused her of being responsible for Monterrey's defeat to FC Cincinnati in the Leagues Cup. Photo @kigm14

We are committed to supporting Katia, promoting respect at all levels of the sport, and working with stakeholders, including the FMF and Leagues Cup, to explore ways to investigate the accounts that posted these attacks , he said.

Behind the messages of hate and discrimination, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated in 2023 that in Latin America, not only have individuals been detected creating, manipulating, or publishing harmful information, but also the presence of organized groups with political, religious, and social affiliations. "These groups bring together internet users, bots , and trolls who act in a coordinated manner to attack public figures," Víctor Manuel Merchand Benítez, head of knowledge management and innovation in information technologies at UNODC Mexico, told La Jornada .

They express solidarity

The Bravos de Juárez women's team expressed its support and full backing for Katia Itzel García, an outstanding woman who has broken barriers in sports and honored Mexico through her profession , the statement said in a statement shared on social media. At the same time, it called for soccer to be lived with respect and tolerance, a place where all people can develop safely, without fear of reprisals, attacks, or intimidation .

Since the creation of the women's professional circuit in 2016, the number of people reporting practices classified as digital violence remains low. The most well-known cases are those of Selene Cortés, Jana Gutiérrez, Selene Valera, Deneva Cagigas, Greta Espinoza, Renata Masciarelli, and Scarlett Camberos, who were harassed in their professional development by anonymous users and cybercriminals.

According to experts at UNODC Mexico, clubs and organizations are responsible for establishing a network of support and trust that allows victims to file complaints with the appropriate authorities.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 3, 2025, p. 9

In the early days of the Leagues Cup, MLS clubs—some less than 10 years old—turned their rivals' confidence into recurring frustration. There were thrashings, last-minute comebacks, and matches that went to penalties in favor of the home team. Pumas and América resisted that trend yesterday. With disadvantages and players sent off, the two Liga MX champions took their matches against Atlanta United (3-2) and Minnesota (3-3, 8-7 from the 11-yard line) to the limit to achieve victories that guarantee their continued contention for a spot in the next round.

The university team went through the same confusion of feeling superior, but being behind on the scoreboard. An own goal by Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas (35), who was sent off in the final stretch, added to the goal by Emmanuel Latte (43), sufficiently complicated the plans of coach Efraín Juárez at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Only the personality of elements like the Colombian Álvaro Angulo, author of a penalty (23), and the Panamanian Adalberto Carrasquilla, figure with a double (62 and 89), clarified the panorama of the UNAM team in the second date of the competition.

Navas will miss the third and decisive match of the tie against Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi. Although Juárez claimed until the last minute that the Costa Rican touched the ball first in the foul he committed, the referee maintained his decision to leave Pumas with one less player. Angulo, a regular full-back for the Auriazules, took the vacant spot in goal in stoppage time.

Almost at the same time, but in Minnesota, América twice reversed the home team's lead until forcing a penalty shootout (8-7) with the score at 3-3 after 90 minutes. An own goal by Michael Boxall (27) and goals by José Zúñiga (53) and Sebastián Cáceres (90) tied the score that Tani Oluwaseyi (16), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (31) and Carlos Harvey (65) had opened in the first half. Already in the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Luis Malagón saved Fernando Romero's shot and left the victory on a silver platter at the feet of Isaías Violante. The Eagles suffered the expulsion of Igor Lichnovsky.

In other results, Orlando City defeated Atlas 3-1, while Necaxa fell 5-4 on penalties to Inter Miami after a 2-2 draw in regulation. Lionel Messi left the field injured.

▲ The historic captain of the Brazilians (10) and her teammate Angelina (8) raise the trophy to celebrate their hegemony in Conmebol. Photo Ap

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 3, 2025, p. a10

Led by its historic captain, the eternal Marta, the Brazilian national team confirmed its hegemony by being crowned champion of the CONMEBOL Women's Copa América for the ninth time, after defeating its counterpart from Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shootout yesterday in the final of the tournament played at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito.

After a 3-3 tie in regulation time and a 4-4 draw in extra time, the title winner was decided by a dramatic series of penalty kicks, which extended to seven shots per side, with Luany giving the Verdeamerela the victory by hitting the decisive shot.

Also scoring for Brazil were Tarciane, Amanda Gutierrez, Mariza Nascimento, and Jhonson, while Angelina Alonso and Marta missed their shots.

The following scored for Colombia: Catalina Usme, Marcela Restrepo, Linda Caicedo, and Wendy Bonilla, who plays for Pumas in the Liga MX. Manuela Pavi, Leicy Santos, and Jorelyn Carabalí missed.

In the tenth edition of the tournament, this time held in Ecuador, the Colombian team was undeterred by the Brazilian team's superiority—which had won every final of this tournament, except for the one in 2006, when they lost to Argentina—and stood up to them from the start of the match.

In the opening minutes, Colombia created danger with various attempts by Caicedo and Mayra Ramírez; however, timely reactions from the Brazilian defenders, as well as goalkeeper Lorena da Silva Leite, prevented them from opening the scoring.

Meanwhile, the Cariocas couldn't find a way to get close to Katherine Tapia's goal.

The reward

Real Madrid forward Caicedo's persistence finally paid off in the 25th minute, when she unleashed a shot from the center of the box to make it 1-0.

After the goal, the Colombians went all out on the attack in search of an extra goal; however, their momentum on the pitch backfired in the closing stages of the first half, after Carabalí committed a foul in the box that was awarded a penalty. Alonso was tasked with taking the penalty, and with a flawless shot, Brazil tied the score at 1-1 at 45+9.

In the second half, the Cariocas made things difficult in the 69th minute with an own goal by Tarciane, giving Colombia the lead back (2-1).

The pleasure was short-lived for the coffee growers, as just 10 minutes later, in the 80th minute, Gutierres finished off a great play by Brazil with a goal to tie the score again (2-2).

Colombia was undeterred and took the lead again in the 88th minute, when Ramírez took advantage of a pass from Caicedo in the box to score and make it 3-2.

When the coffee growers were already tasting victory, the recently entered Marta appeared to save her team with a left-footed goal from outside the area, thus achieving a 3-3 tie in the last minute (90+6), which forced two extra times, where the Brazilian captain shone again by making it 4-3 in the 105th minute. However, the Colombians again balanced the score (4-4) in the 115th minute through Santos.

After this second draw, a thrilling penalty shootout took place, with Brazil defeating Colombia to reaffirm its position as the best women's team in CONMEBOL.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 3, 2025, p. a10

Hungaroring, Charles Leclerc shattered predictions yesterday by securing an unexpected pole position for Ferrari, ahead of McLaren, for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the fourteenth of the Formula 1 season.

Less than 30 thousandths of a second was the difference that allowed the Monegasque driver to secure his 27th pole position on the top circuit in motorsport, ahead of the leader of the overall World Championship standings, Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren).

I have no voice , celebrated Leclerc moments after having signed “one of the best poles ” of his career, because it is so unexpected!

He wasn't wrong. From the start of the weekend, the McLarens had been the favorites on the Hungaroring track near the capital, Budapest. The public assumed that one of the two papaya cars would take pole position.

The wind changed a lot, it seems pathetic to blame it, but it changed completely, it is difficult to make an assessment in those conditions , Piastri explained.

The other McLaren, driven by Briton Lando Norris, will start from the second row, alongside his compatriot George Russell, fourth at the wheel of his Mercedes.

Norris also pointed to the changing conditions in the final stretch of qualifying. "The wind shifted and penalized us ," he noted.

In the overall standings, Piastri leads by just 16 points over his English teammate. Since the beginning of the year, the two McLaren drivers have been engaged in an electrifying duel at the wheel of cars superior to the rest of the field.

Reigning four-time world champion, Dutchman Max Verstappen, who confirmed his stay at Red Bull on Thursday, thus quelling rumors that he would join Mercedes, will start today in eighth position in his 200th Grand Prix with the Austrian team.

Lewis Hamilton, an eight-time winner at the Hungaroring, where he took nine pole positions , suffered a similar disappointment. The Briton will start twelfth, behind his young compatriot Oliver Bearman, in 11th.

The 40-year-old Ferrari driver had harsh words for himself: "I'm completely useless ," he said, dejected. "The team doesn't have any problems. They've seen the car, it's on pole position . They should probably change drivers."

▲ Photo @Feyenoord

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 3, 2025, p. a10

Santiago Chaquito Giménez, currently a Milan player, received a tribute from his former club, Feyenoord, with the entire crowd as a farewell before yesterday's preseason match against Wolfsburg. "I'm very grateful to the club and the fans because they've made me feel at home; I am who I am because of them ," declared the Mexican, waving the Mexican flag. The match was suspended in the 79th minute with the score 4-0 in favor of the home team due to a medical incident involving a fan in the stands, who is reportedly already recovering.