Mexican Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman Suspended for 11 Matches for Laser Pointer Incident

Nahuel Guzman, the goalkeeper for Tigres UANL in Mexico's Liga MX, has been suspended for 11 matches by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) for directing a laser pointer at Monterrey player Esteban Andrada during a league match.

The incident occurred on Sunday when Guzman, who was injured and sitting in the stands, was caught on video aiming the laser pointer at Monterrey players, including Andrada.

The FMF's Disciplinary Commission handed down the unprecedented punishment, stating that the sanctions should "mark a before and after" in Mexican soccer. In addition to the 11-match suspension, Guzman was also fined and ordered to complete hours of social work. Tigres accepted the punishment and said they would further discipline Guzman based on their internal code.

Guzman, a 38-year-old Argentine goalkeeper, later apologized for the incident on social media. However, this is not the first time he has been involved in controversial behavior. In August 2023, Guzman made headlines for pulling a ribbon out of his mouth to distract a penalty-taker during a Leagues Cup match.

The lengthy suspension means Guzman will miss the remainder of the 2024 Clausura tournament and the beginning of the 2024 Apertura. He has not played for Tigres since March 9 due to a knee injury that required surgery.

The match between Tigres and Monterrey, known as the Clasico Regio, ended in a 3-3 draw. The FMF also fined Monterrey player Andrada for using a homophobic slur in a social media post directed at Guzman following the laser pointer incident.

Why this matters: This unprecedented disciplinary action by the Mexican Football Federation sets a new standard for player conduct and aims to deter unsportsmanlike behavior that undermines the integrity of the game. The severe punishment for Guzman's actions sends a strong message that such conduct will not be tolerated in Mexican soccer.

In a statement, the FMF emphasized the significance of the sanctions, describing Guzman's actions as "unprecedented" in Mexican soccer history. Tigres and Monterrey were also fined for separate incidents stemming from fan behavior during the heated match. The Disciplinary Commission of Liga MX imposed additional bans on two unnamed fans, prohibiting them from attending league matches.

Key Takeaways

• Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman suspended 11 matches for laser pointer incident
• Punishment aims to set new standard for player conduct in Mexican soccer
• Guzman also fined and ordered to do social work; Tigres to discipline him further
• Monterrey player Andrada fined for using homophobic slur against Guzman
• Two unnamed fans banned from attending Liga MX matches due to fan behavior