Referee Facundo Tello, who officiated the match between South Korea and Portugal in the Qatar World Cup four years ago, will oversee the final group stage match between South Korea and South Africa in the 2026 North American World Cup.
On June 21, the International Football Federation (FIFA) announced that Tello, an Argentine referee, will blow the whistle for the Group A match scheduled for June 25 at 10 a.m. at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico.
According to the football statistics site Player Stats, Tello has officiated a total of 395 matches, issuing 1,814 yellow cards and 80 red cards. This averages to 4.59 yellow cards and 0.2 red cards per match.
Tello gained notoriety during the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club, where he sent off a total of 10 players after a brawl broke out between the teams.
Tello also has a connection to South Korea, having issued warnings to Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in during the final group match against Portugal in Qatar. Fortunately, that match ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory for South Korea, allowing them to advance to the Round of 16.
In the upcoming match against South Africa, the accumulation of yellow cards will be a critical concern. Tello officiated the Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 13, where he issued five yellow cards.
With Lee Kang-in, Lee Han-beom, and Baek Seung-ho already holding yellow cards from the previous match against Mexico, any additional warnings in the upcoming game could prevent them from participating in the next round, even if South Korea advances to the knockout stage. Given their importance to the team, there are growing concerns about potential losses in strength, necessitating a more meticulous performance in the match.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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