Pulisic lashes out at unacceptable refereeing display after USA Copa America exit

United States skipper Christian Pulisic said he could not accept the performance of the matchday officials led by Kevin Ortega after the United States Men’s National Team crashed out of the Copa America on Monday, Soccernet.football reports.

The AC Milan forward made it clear that he did not believe officiating was to blame for his team’s group-stage exit at Copa America. However, he was left puzzled by the decisions made in the USMNT’s 1-0 defeat to Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas.

This is the first time the USA has been eliminated in the Copa America group stage since 2007 having previously advanced further when invited to participate in 1995 and 2016.

Referee Ortega was seen refusing a handshake from Pulisic at full-time. While the USA captain did not blame the official for his team’s exit, he was infuriated by his performance.

“Honestly, I saw things that I’ve never seen before right in front of my eyes today, things that truly I can’t believe,” Pulisic said at a post-match press conference. 

“It’s not why we lost; we’re not out of this tournament because of officiating. But I’ve just seen things where I don’t know what I’m looking at. 

“I don’t know what they’re calling. I don’t know what he’s… he gives no explanation. He’s doing things that I just can’t accept. He wouldn’t shake my hand. It’s normal, I guess.”

Uruguay defender Mathías Olivera, who scored the game’s only goal in the 66th minute, seemed to be in an offside position when the ball was flicked on but after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was confirmed without sending Ortega to the video monitor.

Replays showed an indistinguishable overlap between Olivera’s body and the foot of USMNT defender Chris Richards, who apparently kept the Uruguayan onside.

“It’s pretty crazy, really,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said of the call. 

“I don’t understand it. You know, I feel like I know the rule pretty well. I feel like we had the pictures that are showing how the rule could be interpreted and it’s an offside goal. 

“It’s disappointing, it really is, but you know, that happens in football and we have to live with it, obviously.”