LEAGUES CUP 2023
Referee of controversial USMNT vs Mexico game to take charge of Messi and Inter Miami vs Orlando City
Salvadorian Iván Barton will be hoping for an easier night during the Herons’ Leagues Cup 2023 round of 32 match.
Inter Miami play their biggest match since Lionel Messi’s arrival on Wednesday when they take on Florida rivals Orlando City at DRV PNK Stadium in the round of 32 of the 2023 Leagues Cup. Referee Iván Barton of El Salvador will take charge of the knockout clash, which has caught the attention of some given his most recent high-profile appointment.
Referee Barton no stranger to the big stage
The 32-year-old has already officiated on the biggest stage having been in the middle for games in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Conacaf Champions League. Now he will get his first taste of Messi and Miami.
The Argentine superstar, of course, led his country to victory in the World Cup, a tournament in which Barton was in charge of three matches, namely Germany vs Japan (1-2), Brazil vs Switzerland (1-0) and England vs Senegal (3-0). The Salvadorian was also involved in other matches as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and has become one of Central America’s leading referees on the world stage.
In addition, Barton was also involved in the last two Concacaf Champions League finals, refereeing the first leg of the 2022 final between Seattle Sounders and Pumas, followed by the second leg of this year’s final, which saw Club León face LAFC.
Card-happy Barton in heated USMNT vs Mexico clash
Perhaps more memorably, Barton was the official for the controversial USMNT vs Mexico clash in the Conacaf Nations League in June, which the Stars and Stripes won by three goals to nil.
The whistler showed no fewer than four red cards in that match, including to El Tri defender César Montes for an incident involving Folarin Balogun, and US midfielder Weston McKennie for his retaliation to it.
Sergiño Dest and Gerard Arteaga squared up to each other just before full time and were also sent off, while nine other players were shown yellow cards at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. While the two sides didn’t exact cover themselves in glory, the USMNT were especially unhappy at the red cards shown to their players.