Mexico City Security Secretariat Clarifies Referee Incident at Estadio Banorte

Mexico City's Security Secretariat has clarified an incident that occurred after a soccer match at the Estadio Banorte, addressing claims that referees were assaulted by traffic police. The Secretariat stated that traffic officers detected a red taxi attempting to drive the wrong way on Circuito Azteca Avenue. When an officer approached to redirect the driver, the taxi driver reacted aggressively and verbally insulted the officer before proceeding in the correct direction.

The driver later returned to the same spot due to slow traffic and again attempted to drive the wrong way. It was at this point that the passengers, who identified themselves as referees, exited the vehicle. After verifying their identities with stadium authorities, they re-boarded the taxi and left the venue.

The Secretariat typically provides escort services for referees arriving and departing from matches. However, on this occasion, they were informed that this service would not be required. The statement emphasized that coordination meetings are held before major events to plan logistics and ensure the safety of all participants and attendees.