Former referee Byron Moreno released after two years in prison

Dec 5, 2012 12:25:00 AM

The official who gained notoriety for decisions in the 2002 World Cup, between South Korea and Italy has been deported from the USA after serving a jail term for drug charges

Former referee Byron Moreno has been released from prison in the United States after completing a two-year jail sentence for drug smuggling, according to ANSA.

The Ecuadorian, who gained notoriety after making a number of controversial decisions in Italy's round of 16 clash with South Korea during the 2002 World Cup, has now been deported to his home country.

Moreno was arrested at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York in September 2010 after being found with over 6lbs of heroin strapped to his body, worth approximately €535,000.

The 43-year-old was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, but was released after 26 due to good behaviour.

Moreno's career ended in acrimony in 2003 after he received a one-match suspension from refereeing only three games into his return from a twenty-match ban.

The longer suspension had been triggered after Moreno allowed a game between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito and Barcelona Sporting Club to continue for thirteen minutes, having signalled six minutes of injury time.

Liga de Quito scored an equaliser and then winner in the time during which the game should have been stopped.

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