CONCACAF chiefs defended the referee at the centre of the Gold Cup officiating controversy on Saturday, saying that mistakes made during Panama's stormy semi-final defeat to Mexico were "human error." American referee Mark Geiger has faced stinging criticism from Panamanian players and officials over a series of game-changing calls during their team's 2-1 loss to the Mexicans on Wednesday.
Alfredo Hawit, acting president of the governing body for football in North & Central America and the Caribbean, said CONCACAF officials had discussed the semi-final in a meeting with Geiger and referee chiefs. "Mr Geiger, one of the best regarded referees in the region with vast international experience and a proven track record, accepted that officiating errors had been made during Wednesday's match and that these impacted the outcome of the game," Hawit said. "We at CONCACAF regret these circumstances but accept that such human errors are part of the game." Both Panama and Costa Rica had lodged formal complaints with CONCACAF over refereeing during this year's Gold Cup.