Byron Moreno
 Moreno in 2021 | |||
| Full name | Byron Aldemar Moreno Ruales | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
23 November 1969 Quito,Ecuador | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| –2003 | Serie A | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1996–2003 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Byron Aldemar Moreno Ruales(born 23 November 1969) is an Ecuadorian formerfootballrefereeand convicteddrug traffickerwho served in theFIFA World Cupas anInternational Refereefrom 1996 to 2003.
Refereeing career
[edit]During the2002 FIFA World Cup,Moreno refereed theround of 16 matchbetween tournament favouritesItalyand co-hostsSouth Koreaon June 18. Following Italy's elimination from the tournament after a 2–1 extra time loss, Moreno's performance was criticised for several decisions: he awarded South Korea a controversialpenaltyin the first half (which eventually failed to capitalise) and later disallowed a possible golden goal byDamiano Tommasifor a non existent offside, as well as showing a second yellow card toFrancesco Tottifor an arguable dive in South Korea's penalty area in the first half extra time while he was 37 meters away from play.[1][2]
In September 2002, while seeking election to theQuitoCity Council, Moreno was suspended for twenty matches[3]and investigated by Ecuadorian football authorities.[4]This came after he made timekeeping errors in a match he officiated betweenL.D.U. QuitoandBarcelona S.C.FIFAalso investigated him due to controversies "...in Japan, Italy and South America over the past few months".[1]
In May 2003, in his third game back from suspension, Moreno was again suspended, this time for one match, after he sent off three players from visitingDeportivo Quitoin a 1–1 draw withDeportivo Cuenca.[5]He retired the following month, blaming low performance marks for his retirement.[6]
Legal trouble
[edit]Moreno was arrested on 21 September 2010 atJohn F. Kennedy International AirportinNew York Citywhile trying to smuggle in six kilograms (over thirteen pounds) ofheroin,which was hidden in his underwear.[7]In January 2011, he pleaded guilty to the charges in a New York courthouse, facing a possible ten years in prison.[8]On 23 September 2011, Moreno was sentenced to2+1⁄2years in prison on the heroin smuggling charges.[9] He was released from prison 26 months later and returned to Ecuador.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Fifa investigates Moreno".BBC News.13 September 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2018.Retrieved12 June2006.
- ^"Soccer Referees on Run, and They Can't Hide".The New York Times.21 June 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 20 June 2018.Retrieved29 December2017.
- ^"Referee suspended for 20 matches".Soccernet.11 September 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2007.Retrieved6 August2006.
- ^"FIFA investigates Moreno".Soccernet.13 September 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2018.Retrieved6 August2006.
- ^"Controversial ref suspended again".The New Zealand Herald.23 May 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2020.Retrieved6 August2006.
- ^"Ecuador ref Moreno complains at low marks".Sports Illustrated.10 June 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 16 October 2003.Retrieved6 August2006.
- ^"L'arbitro che eliminò l'Italia da Corea 2002 arrestato a New York con sei chili di eroina".La Repubblica.21 September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2010.Retrieved21 September2010.
- ^"Ex-Referee Byron Moreno Pleads Guilty To Heroin Smuggling".Archivedfrom the original on 26 August 2021.Retrieved9 March2011.
- ^"Ex-referee sentenced to 2½ years".Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2011.Retrieved23 September2011.
- ^""Byron Moreno enfrenta otra indagación"".Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2012.Retrieved4 December2012.
External links
[edit]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup profile(archive)