The Clásico Joven between Cruz Azul and Club América was marred by a mass brawl at the end of the first half, an incident referee Luis Enrique Santander resolved with only yellow cards and no sendings-off. The clash erupted with Cruz Azul leading 3-0 when América's Brazilian midfielder Raphael Veiga kicked the ball at Agustín Palavecino, who was on the ground.
Carlos 'Charly' Rodríguez reacted instantly. The Cruz Azul midfielder approached Veiga to protest, and the argument escalated when the América player threw an elbow. At that point, players and staff from both teams entered the field, prolonging the confrontation for several minutes right before halftime.
The refereeing decision under fire
Amid the scuffle, Nicolás Ibáñez and Ramón Juárez were involved in another pushing match. Santander managed the situation by showing yellow cards and chose to keep all involved players on the pitch. After several minutes, tempers cooled and the match was able to continue.
The referee's decision sparked immediate backlash. Former referee Fernando 'Cantante' Guerrero harshly criticized his performance on social media. "What a disaster referee Santander is in the Cruz Azul vs América match," Guerrero wrote. "A routine foul he doesn't call leads to a brawl, several players fought, and he showed weak yellows like his refereeing career."
Guerrero continued his remarks and also questioned those leading Mexican officiating. "He is the anti-referee of Mexican football. Keep protecting him, Elizondo and Herrero," added the former official. The incident did not change the course of the match, which ended in victory for La Máquina. Fans can check the team's full schedule on our fixtures page and review the current squad. The team maintains its positive run in the standings table.
The match eventually resumed and Cruz Azul managed to hold onto their lead until the final whistle, closing out a classic filled with tension and refereeing controversy.
