Christian Pulisic openly criticized referee Kevin Ortega’s decisions following the U.S. team’s elimination from Copa America on Monday.
The team faced a must-win scenario against Uruguay in their last group match after dropping a 2-1 game to Panama. Yet, the U.S. succumbed again, this time 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium. Mathias Olivera scored in the second half, although replays suggested a possible offside.
This marks the first group-stage exit for the U.S. in Copa America since 2007, contrasting with past participations in 1995 and 2016 where they advanced further.
Despite not attributing the loss solely to Ortega, Pulisic expressed frustration at the referee’s refusal to shake hands post-match and his overall handling of the game.
“I witnessed baffling decisions today, the likes of which I’ve never encountered before,” Pulisic remarked during a post-game press conference.
“We didn’t exit due to officiating, but what I saw today left me at a loss for words.”
Pulisic added, “The ref didn’t offer any justifications for his decisions. His actions were indefensible. His refusal to shake hands seemed normal, I guess.”
While the U.S. has bowed out, Uruguay advances to face either Colombia or Brazil in the quarter-finals, bypassing Group D’s runners-up.
On the flip side, underdog Uruguay, free from facing favorites Argentina early in the knockout stages, remains a dark horse. Pablo Quiroga, stepping in while Marcelo Bielsa served a suspension, critiqued his team’s early lack of intensity but acknowledged their improvement as the match progressed.
“Initially, our pressing wasn’t sharp enough,” Quiroga observed. “That allowed the U.S. to get comfortable early on. Once we corrected that, the match shifted more in our favor, and we managed to maintain our shape against a skilled opponent.”
