Christian Pulisic was left frustrated after an incident with referee Kevin Ortega. Who declined to shake hands with the United States captain following their elimination from the Copa America.
The United States, needing a win to advance from Group C, entered their final match against Uruguay with hopes high after a previous victory over Bolivia. However, their campaign ended in disappointment with a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay, which saw them crash out of the tournament.
The match was marred by controversy, particularly surrounding Uruguay’s winning goal by Mathias Olivera, which was allowed despite claims of offside. Adding to the tension was an early booking of Chris Richards, which further exacerbated the heated atmosphere in Kansas City.
Pulisic, visibly upset after the match, questioned the referee’s decisions and confronted him about his handling of the game. “Why aren’t you over there with them?” Pulisic reportedly asked, referring to the referee’s controversial decisions. In response to this confrontation, Ortega reportedly refused to shake Pulisic’s hand.
Reflecting on the match, Pulisic commented, “He wouldn’t shake my hand. It’s normal — I mean, I guess,” while criticizing the officiating: “Honestly, I saw things that I’ve never seen before right in front of my eyes today that I just can’t believe.”
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter echoed Pulisic’s frustrations, expressing disbelief over the referee’s decisions, particularly regarding the controversial goal. “It’s pretty crazy, really. I don’t understand it,” Berhalter remarked, acknowledging his team’s disappointment with the tournament’s outcome.
Berhalter also acknowledged the need for a thorough review of the team’s performance, stating, “Totally disappointed with the results. We know that we’re capable of more.”
The defeat marks a disappointing end to the United States’ Copa America campaign, leaving them to evaluate and learn from their experiences as they look ahead to future tournaments.
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