Byron Moreno

Byron Aldemar Moreno Ruales (born 23 November 1969) is an Ecuadorian former football referee and convicted drug trafficker who served in the FIFA World Cup as an International Referee from 1996 to 2003.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Moreno and the second or maternal family name is Ruales.

Byron Moreno

Moreno in 2021
Full name	Byron Aldemar Moreno Ruales
Born	(1969-11-23) 23 November 1969 (age 54) Quito, Ecuador
Domestic
Years	League	Role
0000–2003	Serie A	Referee
International
Years	League	Role
1996–2003	FIFA listed	Referee

Refereeing career

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Moreno refereed the round of 16 match between tournament favourites Italy and co-hosts South Korea on June 18. Following Italy's elimination from the tournament after a 2–1 extra time loss, Moreno's performance was criticised for several decisions: he awarded South Korea a controversial penalty in the first half (which eventually failed to capitalise) and later disallowed a possible golden goal by Damiano Tommasi for a non existent offside, as well as showing a second yellow card to Francesco Totti for an arguable dive in South Korea's penalty area in the first half extra time while he was 37 meters away from play.^[1][2]

In September 2002, while seeking election to the Quito City Council, Moreno was suspended for twenty matches^[3] and investigated by Ecuadorian football authorities.^[4] This came after he made timekeeping errors in a match he officiated between L.D.U. Quito and Barcelona S.C. FIFA also investigated him due to controversies "...in Japan, Italy and South America over the past few months".^[1]

In May 2003, in his third game back from suspension, Moreno was again suspended, this time for one match, after he sent off three players from visiting Deportivo Quito in a 1–1 draw with Deportivo Cuenca.^[5] He retired the following month, blaming low performance marks for his retirement.^[6]

Legal trouble

Moreno was arrested on 21 September 2010 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City while trying to smuggle in six kilograms (over thirteen pounds) of heroin, which was hidden in his underwear.^[7] In January 2011, he pleaded guilty to the charges in a New York courthouse, facing a possible ten years in prison.^[8] On 23 September 2011, Moreno was sentenced to 2+1⁄2 years in prison on the heroin smuggling charges.^[9] He was released from prison 26 months later and returned to Ecuador.^[10]

References

1. "Fifa investigates Moreno". BBC News. 13 September 2002. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2006.
2. "Soccer Referees on Run, and They Can't Hide". The New York Times. 21 June 2002. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
3. "Referee suspended for 20 matches". Soccernet. 11 September 2002. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
4. "FIFA investigates Moreno". Soccernet. 13 September 2002. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
5. "Controversial ref suspended again". The New Zealand Herald. 23 May 2003. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
6. "Ecuador ref Moreno complains at low marks". Sports Illustrated. 10 June 2003. Archived from the original on 16 October 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
7. "L'arbitro che eliminò l'Italia da Corea 2002 arrestato a New York con sei chili di eroina". La Repubblica. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
8. "Ex-Referee Byron Moreno Pleads Guilty To Heroin Smuggling". Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
9. "Ex-referee sentenced to 2½ years". Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
10. ""Byron Moreno enfrenta otra indagación"". Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.

External links

• 2002 FIFA World Cup profile (archive)