He gave club America a championship, he took the secret, now he loses his life

The man who starred in one of the biggest controversies in Mexican soccer, Joaquín Urrea, has died at the age of 80. In his years as a referee, he will be remembered for not scoring a penalty in favor of the Pumas in the final of the 1984-85 season, with this he helped Club América to become champion.

The third game that would define the champion was played between América and Pumas in a game played at the La Corregidora de Querétaro stadium, a scene in which Alfredo Tena put a clear hand inside the area that should have been sanctioned as a foul and a penalty, but the referee Urrea did not see it and let the play continue.

This move continues to generate controversy and helped Pumas have a strong rivalry with Club América. Journalists such as José Ramón Fernández said that the referee wanted América to be champion that season and that is why he helped the club win the championship.

Years later he admitted on several occasions that he was wrong and that he could confirm the mistake until it was repeated the next day. Even in recent years, when technology was innovated in Mexican soccer by installing VAR in League stadiums, Urrea himself recognized that if this help had existed in his time as a referee, that championship would have gone to the Pumas and Not for Club America.

The legacy of Joaquin Urrea

Joaquin Urrea was a referee in the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, he worked for several years in Mexican soccer, but he will always be remembered for being the father of the great rivalry between Club América and the Pumas.