Conar asks Augusto Menéndez for explanations for his report on the Universitario vs. Athletic Alliance

The controversies over the performance of arbitration in League 1 are never ending. The referee Augusto Menéndez, who received much criticism for his performance during the Universitario de Deportes vs. Alianza Atlético, was the main one pointed out by the ‘creams’ of the adverse result in Sullana (3-1 defeat).

The main controversy was the expulsion of Nelson Cabanillas. The ‘merengue’ side did not agree with the linesman’s decision to charge him a bad throw-in and sarcastically applauded the verdict. Immediately afterwards, Menéndez showed him the red card.

In the referee’s report, the referee indicates that ‘INSULT’ is the cause. He then describes: “Employing humiliating gestures when applauding the decisions of the assistant referee and the match official”.

Given this fact, the CONAR (National Commission of Referees) asked the referee for explanations in order to clarify doubts about the report.

According to RPP, the clarifications were not long in coming. Menéndez points out that “the fact of insulting or humiliating is not only an action that is carried out verbally, but also through gestures or other types of bodily actions.”

“The action carried out by the player corresponds to conduct of a disrespectful and offensive nature towards the authority of the party, for which reason I decided to frame it in the predetermined cause of ‘insult'”, he continued.

“The reason for the expulsion of the player from the University club was for acting offensively against the authority of the referee by applauding the decisions of the refereeing team after a restart,” he concluded.