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New York Times

FIFA condemns Leagues Cup death threats against Mexican referee Katia Itzel Garcia

FIFA on Monday joined a growing list of governing bodies that have come out in support of Katia Itzel García, strongly condemning the death threats the Mexican referee received following Monterrey's loss to FC Cincinnati in the first round of Leagues Cup last week. The threats, shared over two days, came from an apparent Monterrey fan who blamed García's officiating for the team's 3-2 loss on Thursday. The alarming messages included threats like, 'you're going to die' and 'we're going to kill your entire family.' Advertisement The 32-year-old referee shared the messages publicly, setting off a wave of support over the weekend, with football governing bodies from Mexico and around the world issuing statements backing her. Screen grabs of García's posts were published by ESPN. 'In Mexico, a country where 10 women are murdered every day, where 91 people are murdered every day (men and women). We cannot normalize violence,' García wrote on Instagram. 'I totally reject violence in all spaces!' Several governing bodies have since pledged to work together to hold the aggressors behind these threats accountable. FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday said he was 'dismayed and saddened' by the threats wedged against García. 'Without referees there is no soccer, so we must protect them and respect their role in our sport. In football and in society there is no room for abuse, discrimination or violence of any kind,' Infantino said in a statement on social media. 'At FIFA, we stand in solidarity with the Federation Mexicana de Fútbol and Concacaf to condemn the actions of those who make these unacceptable threats. We offer our unconditional support so that those responsible are accountable.' The outpouring of support began with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), who on Saturday issued a statement condemning the threats against their match official. FMF said it would assist in filing a formal complaint. Comunicado de la FMF y la Comisión de Árbitros. — Federación Mexicana de Futbol (@FMF) August 2, 2025 'The Mexican Football Federation (FMF), through the Arbitration Commission, strongly condemns the acts of intimidation and threats directed against the referee with FIFA badge, Katia Itzel Garcia, and expresses its full support for the statements and public expressions made by her,' the federation said. 'The Federation will advise and accompany Katia in the complaint process before the corresponding authorities, likewise, the FMF is in permanent communication with CONCACAF as well as with the Organizing Committee of Leagues Cup with the sole objective of guaranteeing the integrity and safety of Katia and all the referees in the tournament.' CONCACAF, too, pledged their support of García, saying it 'fully condemns the disgraceful and unacceptable threats made against her. Concacaf Statement Concacaf stands firmly with referee Katia Itzel García and fully condemns the disgraceful and unacceptable threats made against her. There is absolutely no place in football, or in society, for abuse, intimidation, or violence of any kind, particularly… — Concacaf Media (@ConcacafMedia) August 2, 2025 'There is absolutely no place in football, or in society, for abuse, intimidation, or violence of any kind, particularly against match officials who uphold the integrity of our game. We are committed to supporting Katia, promoting respect across all levels of the sport, and working with regional stakeholders and partners, including the FMF and Leagues Cup, to seek ways to investigate the accounts that posted the threats.' Comunicado a nuestra Afición y a los Medios de Comunicación. 📝#EnLaVidaYEnLaCancha — Rayados (@Rayados) August 3, 2025 Monterrey shared its own rebuke of the threats against Garcia, who was the central referee during their match against Cincinnati. 'At the Monterrey Rayados Soccer Club, we believe that the threats to the integrity of the people who make up the environment of professional soccer, whatever their occupation and level of responsibility, should not have a place under no circumstances,' the club said. Advertisement Echoing Garcia's original statement, they added, 'The aggressions, such as those recently denounced by the Mexican referee Katia Itzel García and any other type of manifestation of violence, are inadmissible and we must all make them visible, denounce them, reject them and avoid normalizing them.'