An action recorded in the second half of the match between América and Pumas ignited the controversy and will lead to a formal process before the Liga MX. The club university board will present this lu nes a complaint to the Disciplinary Commission for what it considers a possible improper alignment of the crema team in the first-leg duel of the Clausura 2026 Quarter-Finals which ended 3-3.

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The play in question occurred at minute 62, in the middle of a sequence of changes by America. Sebastián Cáceres received medical attention after a clash of heads with Álvaro Angulo , while the team prepared three simultaneous substitutions. At that moment, the fourth referee marked on the board the exit of Miguel Vázquez to introduce Thiago Espinosa.

However, the situation changed immediately. Upon realizing that Cáceres had to leave the field due to a brain concussion and a facial fracture, egrants from América's technical corps reversed the substitution, returning Vázquez to the field of play so that the change was made with the Uruguayan defender.

According to Pumas' version, there are audiovisual records in which it is observed that Vázquez would have completely left the field before returning, a point that supports the complaint that will be presented to the tournament authorities.

Found stances and possible disciplinary impact

From the America side, the interpretation is different. Club spokespersons indicated that the central referee, Luis Enrique Santander, authorized the change under the protocol or shock, according to ESPN. In that context, they pointed out that any inconsistency would correspond to the officers in charge of managing the substitutions in the bank.

The official minute of the party supports this stance, since it records the entry of Thiago Nahuel Espinosa for Sebastián Cáceres, without reference to him to Vázquez's exit. This difference between what is documented and what the videos show will be one of the key points in the disciplinary review.

The competition regulations establish that, in cases of concussion, the teams can make an additional substitution, provided it is vali medically given. It also indicates that a player who has left the field cannot re-enter, since that would set up an improper lineup.

If the infraction is proven, article 52 of the Sanctions Regulations indicates that the team involved would lose the right to continue in the final phase.

In the case of an adverse resolution, America could appeal to the Appeals Commission of the Mexican Football Federation, instance in charge of issuing a final ruling.