FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned the wave of online abuse and death threats aimed at Mexican referee Katia Itzel Garcia after a controversial Leagues Cup match.
Garcia officiated the July 31 clash between FC Cincinnati and Monterrey, which ended 3–2 in favour of the MLS side.
Her decision to allow a late Cincinnati goal—despite offside protests—triggered outrage among Monterrey fans.
Within hours, Garcia’s social media was flooded with violent messages. Some threatened to kill her and her family. One read: “You’re going to die… We’re the ones in charge in Mexico, so don’t hide too much.”
“There Is No Place for Abuse in Football”
Infantino responded on Instagram: “I am dismayed and saddened by the threats against referee Katia Itzel following her performance in the Leagues Cup first round matches between Monterrey and Cincinnati.”
“There is no place in football and society for abuse, discrimination and violence of any kind,” he added.
FIFA pledged “unconditional support” to Garcia and promised to work with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and CONCACAF to hold the offenders accountable.
Katia Itzel Garcia
The FMF confirmed it will “advise and accompany Garcia in the complaint process before the corresponding authorities.” Cybercrime units in Mexico and the U.S. are now tracking the IP addresses linked to the threats.
Garcia, 32, is one of Mexico’s top female referees. She has officiated in Liga MX, the Gold Cup, and the Olympic Games. In 2024, she became the first woman in 20 years to referee a men’s Liga MX match.
A Wider Fight for Referee Safety
CONCACAF also condemned the threats, saying: “There is absolutely no place in football, or in society, for abuse, intimidation, or violence of any kind.”
Garcia posted on Instagram: “In Mexico, a country where 10 women are murdered every day, we cannot normalize violence. I totally reject violence in all spaces!”
Her courage has sparked a wider conversation about referee safety, especially for women in male-dominated sports. Monterrey, the club whose fans were involved, also issued a statement rejecting “unacceptable behaviour.”
Infantino reminded the world: “Without referees, there is no football. We must protect them.”
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