US Open Cup game to be replayed after referee's 'conflict of interest' | OneFootball

A preliminary game in the US Open Cup will be replayed after a referee's 'conflict of interest'.

US Soccer released a statement saying that the game between Sharktopus FC and Bellevue Athletic will be replayed following a protest by Seattle-based semi-pro side Sharktopus.

It had emerged that the referee for Bellevue Athletic's 4-3 win had in fact previously played for the club's second team.

Now replay has been ordered ' to protect the integrity of the competition based on the presence of a conflict of interest' after Sharktopus' complaint was reviewed by a disciplinary panel.

"The Panel wants to be clear for the record that its decision does not reflect any evidence or belief that any party attempted to influence the competition, nor should the decision be viewed as a referendum of the on-field performance of the match officials during the match in question," a statement read.

Bellevue Athletic will be hoping to repeat the feat which had at the time been their first-ever win in a US Open Cup qualifying game.

The game is for qualification for the 2026 edition of the competition with the 2025 tournament having been won by Nashville SC earlier this month.