Liga de Quito fumes over refereeing after draw

Liga de Quito expressed outrage over the refereeing after a 1-1 draw against Manta in the Ecuadorian championship on July 23, 2026. Club officials, the coaching staff, and players voiced strong dissatisfaction with decisions they believe directly impacted the match's outcome, particularly a disallowed goal.

Interim coach Patricio Hurtado stated that refereeing decisions cost the team three points. He emphasized the need for clear, correct, and equitable officiating for all teams. Hurtado pointed to specific plays, including a goal scored while a Liga de Quito player was on the ground and the incorrect drawing of VAR lines to disallow a goal.

Striker Deyverson, who scored the disallowed goal, took to social media to criticize the decision. He posted an image of the play and the VAR lines, calling the offside call a "disgrace" and sarcastically congratulating LigaPro and the VAR officials for their work. The disallowed goal involved a cross into the box, with the offside call based on the tip of Deyverson's boot being ahead of the defender.

Liga de Quito President Isaac Álvarez announced that the club would take action, including requesting a meeting with the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and seeking the VAR audio. Álvarez criticized the "crooked lines" used for offside calls and stated that the two points lost were irreparable. He also called for the FEF's Refereeing Commission to take responsibility for its errors.