Mariano Soso faces ban for telling referee "you're broken morally" | OneFootball

Mariano Soso was at the center of one of the most heated moments of matchday 10 in the 2026 Torneo Apertura. After the draw between Defensa y Justicia and Central Córdoba, the coach exploded at referee Bryan Ferreyra over a controversial call against him. Now, he faces possible sanctions.

“You’re tarnishing Argentine football, old man, realize that. How can you sleep? How can you sleep afterwards? You have no dignity, you can’t go on because you’re unworthy. What’s going on inside you? What about your family? What about your people? Ask yourself that, that’s the toughest part of all, not that people insult me. How broken you are morally, you’re shattered. Don’t hold my gaze because you can’t. You’re broken,” he lashed out.

The punishment Soso could receive is directly related to what Ferreyra states in his referee report. After that, it will all be in the hands of the Disciplinary Tribunal. If it is understood that the coach’s actions were a protest and expression of disagreement without intimidating intent or excessive severity, the minimum penalty is a one-match suspension.

In the case of coaches, if they receive only a one-match ban, they have the option to replace it with a financial fine equivalent to 21 general admission tickets. However, if the Tribunal determines there was unsportsmanlike conduct, the sanction would be a four-match suspension.

The worst-case scenario for Soso would only occur if Ferreyra attributes an act of intimidation to his behavior, based on his own judgment. The Disciplinary Code stipulates a 10-match suspension, with no fine to mitigate the punishment.

The 44-year-old coach’s behavior was due to a key moment in the match: Emiliano Amor’s foul on Michael Santos inside the box, which led to Ferroviario’s equalizer through a penalty kick, awarded after a VAR review.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.