Pumas coach Juárez blames referee bias after 0-0 Liga MX final first leg

The first leg of the Clausura 2026 Liga MX final between Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM ended in a goalless draw at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. Pumas head coach Efraín Juárez alleged that refereeing decisions throughout the playoff had consistently favored Cruz Azul, citing a handball and penalty against Atlas, a penalty for Chivas, and a handball call against América that was not applied to Cruz Azul.

Juárez also denounced a perceived advantage after a photo showed him speaking with match official Daniel Quintero before the semifinal, prompting Cruz Azul to request a change of referee for the final. Cruz Azul’s manager Joel Huiqui defended his side and warned that Juárez’s comments could lead to sanctions. Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas made several crucial saves for Pumas, preserving the 0‑0 scoreline as the series moves to the next leg.