Hernán Darío Gómez,manager of El Salvador’s national team,vehemently criticized teh officiating following a defeat to Panama,expressing bewilderment over early yellow cards issued to key players adn questioning a goal allowed against his squad.The outspoken rebuke came after Panama secured a win that marked El Salvador’s second loss in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The controversy centers on Gómez’s assertions that unfavorable refereeing decisions significantly impacted the match’s outcome and hindered his team’s performance. With aspirations for a spot in the 2026 World Cup hanging in the balance, El Salvador faces a crucial upcoming match against Guatemala on Tuesday, October 14th, where a favorable result is paramount. This latest outburst from ‘Bolillo’ Gómez underscores the high stakes and mounting pressure surrounding the national team’s qualifying journey.
Gómez initially pointed to the swift issuing of yellow cards to Salvadoran players Landaverde and Cerritos early in the game. ”These are things that I don’t know why they don’t call us,” he stated, suggesting a perceived bias. He further argued that the match was characterized by “a lot of friction and clashes in the first minutes and the yellow cards were for us,not for them.”
The manager also raised concerns about the legitimacy of Panama’s goal, stating, “I already saw the video of the goal they scored against us and one says, ‘he can cancel it or he can turn it off,’ like the goal we score.”
Despite acknowledging his team’s strengths, Gómez alluded to external factors affecting their performance. He noted having a “stronger” team with good order, but also expressed frustration, saying, “I didn’t have the support because… you should already know why. I was shocked by some things.”