The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favor of Club America defender Pablo Aguilar and Toluca midfielder Enrique Triverio, reinstating the original suspensions given by the league, the CAS announced Tuesday.
The players were suspended for incidents in Copa MX matches on March 8. Aguilar made contact with referee Fernando Hernandez after a controversial 1-0 America defeat and was later suspended 10 matches by the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol (FMF)'s Disciplinary Committee. Triverio accosted an official after a decision late in a 2-2 draw with Morelia that Toluca eventually lost on penalty kicks. The Argentine was given an eight-match ban by the Disciplinary Committee.
But the Mexican referee's association felt the penalties were not harsh enough and went on strike. That threw the Liga MX season into chaos, with Round 10 of matches forced to be postponed. The officials returned to work only after the league's Appeals Committee extended both players' suspension to one year, which the referees had said was the maximum suspension allowed by the rule book.
But the Swiss-based organization found that penalty to be too harsh and struck down the amended decision.
"The Sole Arbitrator considered that, in light of the evidence which was produced, the sanctions that had been imposed in the first instance by the Disciplinary Committee of the FMF were appropriate in light of the misconducts at stake and that the increased sanctions imposed by the Appeal Committee of the FMF could not be upheld," the decision read.
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While both incidents were separate, the court heard them together after all parties agreed to an expedited process.
The decision means Triverio will be eligible to return for the Red Devils when the Liguilla starts in a week, while Aguilar could return this campaign as well if Club America makes the semifinals of the Liguilla.
"Thanks for all the support, most of all from my family, directors, friends, teammates and Toluca fans," Triverio tweeted. "Good start to the week."
