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It has unfortunately become more common seeing referees around the world be assaulted and harassed for doing nothing less than their job. This time, it happened in Ecuador.
In Saturday’s LigaPro game between Macará and Aucas, Héctor Lautaro Chiriboga, Macará’s goalkeeper coach, punched the referee, Álex Cejas, after he went to the VAR and called a penalty for the visitors in the last minute of the game.
Chiriboga confronted him, got the red, pushed him to the ground, got held back, separated and still thought it was a good idea to punch him. Absolutely deplorable.
Referee In Ecuador Punched
Momento exacto donde el juez central Alex Cajas fue agredido por Héctor Lautaro Chiriboga.
Imperdonable. pic.twitter.com/ouqIr1UeEZ— Anali Vasco (@AnaliVasco) August 21, 2022
⚠️ ECUADOR: El árbitro del partido entre Macará y Aucas, fue agredido luego de sancionar un penal a favor del equipo visitante. El agresor fue Héctor Chiriboga, miembro del cuerpo técnico del Macará.
pic.twitter.com/cCCyZH8WiT— Gustavo López (@guslopezinfo) August 21, 2022
This event caused referees in Ecuador to stand against the violence and boycott the rest of match day. Rightfully so.
As expected, Chiriboga was fired from Macará’s coaching staff the morning after.
Finalmente se dio lo que muchos esperaban. Héctor Lautaro Chiriboga fue separado como Preparador de Arqueros de @Macara_Oficial, luego del bochornoso incidente que protagonizó anoche en el juego con Aucas
— Xavier Bucheli T. (@Xavibute) August 22, 2022
Chiriboga has apologized publicly to Cejas and admitted he regrets his actions, though without passing up on the opportunity to say the referee had fault as well. Incredible.
This behavior is no surprise coming from the Ecuadorian.
In 1987, Chiriboga had a similar incident happen but during his time as a professional soccer player.
Yo podré haber sido un niño pero desde que Héctor Lautaro Chiriboga le pegó un puñete a Rubén Insua LO TENGO COMO UN MALCRIADO del fútbol de toda la vida, hace 22 años paso esto pic.twitter.com/zCU4k1NNaR
— Víctor Leon (@vjleonc93) August 21, 2022
... en redes sociales circuló video donde el mismo Sr. Héctor Lautaro Chiriboga cuando era portero; dice el narrador: "le impacta un puñetazo por atrás a Carlos Luís Morales..."; en 1987 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/CgnP2UuBEH
— Bajo La Lupa Ecuador (BLL EC) (@bajolalupaEC) August 22, 2022
He had to be held back by three security officers.
Aside from kicked out of the squad, Chiriboga will likely serve a severe punishment by the EFF (Ecuadorian Football Federation).
