Larcamón & Referee Díaz: Why She Refused His Handshake After Cruz Azul Draw
A post-match snub between Cruz Azul manager Nicolás Larcamón and assistant referee Karen Díaz ignited controversy following a 1-1 draw against Mazatlán on Friday, March 21, 2026. Díaz refused to shake Larcamón’s hand after the final whistle, a gesture captured by television cameras and quickly circulating on social media.
The incident prompted widespread speculation about the cause of the apparent slight. David Medrano, a columnist for La Afición, revealed that Larcamón repeatedly criticized the officiating crew throughout the match, frequently exclaiming “qué malos son” – “how bad you are” – in response to calls. Medrano reported that Díaz, on at least two occasions, turned to request Larcamón moderate his comments, only to have the manager reiterate his criticism through an assistant coach.
“A lo largo del partido, en varias ocasiones, dicen que por lo menos cinco, Nicolás, a pecho abierto, cuando alguna decisión del árbitro gritaba ‘qué malos son’, y un par de ocasiones Karen volteó para pedirle mesura y Larcamón volteó con su asistente quien decía ‘son malísimos, tiene razón, qué malos son’,” Medrano explained in a YouTube video.
Medrano emphasized that Larcamón’s comments, while disrespectful, did not constitute insults or profanity, and therefore were not included in the official match report. “No hay insulto, puede ser una falta de respeto, (pero) el técnico no insultó al cuerpo arbitral, por eso ni el cuarto árbitro ni Karen Janett pudieron hacer un reporte en ese sentido,” he stated.
The incident has drawn support for Díaz from within the refereeing community. Eduardo Galván Basulto, a former Liga MX referee, publicly backed Díaz’s decision, suggesting she likely reacted to behavior during the match. “Si decidió no darle la mano es porque seguramente algo pasó durante el partido, Karen no provoca, no falta al respeto… pero tampoco permite que se lo falten,” Galván Basulto said.
The refusal to shake hands occurred after a contentious match where Cruz Azul failed to secure a win against Mazatlán. The draw leaves Cruz Azul’s position in the Clausura 2026 tournament standings uncertain, with the team needing to improve its performance in upcoming matches to contend for a playoff spot.