Overview
- Referee Vanessa Ceballos was struck by Real Alianza Cataquera player Javier Bolivar during a midweek match against Deportivo Quique in Colombia.
- The confrontation followed a 66th‑minute red card shown while Bolivar was on the sidelines, with players and staff stepping in as tensions escalated.
- Ceballos reacted to the blow before being restrained, and video of the incident spread rapidly across social media.
- Bolivar posted an Instagram apology denying deliberate violence and claiming he tried to grab the referee’s whistle, with the post later made private.
- Colombian football officials are expected to investigate with reports of a possible lengthy suspension, and the players’ union has publicly backed Ceballos while formal sanctions have not yet been announced.