Byron Moreno, World Cup Ref, Arrested In New York

NEW YORK — A former referee involved in Italy's controversial elimination from the 2002 World Cup was caught at Kennedy Airport with bags of heroin attached to his body, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Byron Moreno late Monday after he arrived in New York on a commercial flight from his native Ecuador.

During a routine inspection, Moreno "became visibly nervous," according to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

A customs agent felt "hard objects on the defendant's stomach, back and both of his legs," the complaint said. A strip search revealed that the lumps were 10 clear plastic bags containing more than 10 pounds of heroin, it said.

A judge jailed Moreno without bail on a drug smuggling charge.

"I'm looking into the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation," Moreno's attorney, Michael Padden, said Tuesday.

Moreno enraged Italian fans in 2002 when he ejected Francesco Totti, giving the Italian a second yellow card for an alleged dive in the penalty area 13 minutes into overtime of 2-1 loss to South Korea in the World Cup's second round.

A 111th-minute goal by Italy's Damiano Tommasi that would have advanced Italy was disallowed, apparently for offside, and South Korea was awarded a penalty kick – that goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved – for a foul by Christian Panucci against Seol Ki-Hyeon.

"I think Moreno already had the (heroin) in 2002, but not in his underwear, in his body," Buffon said. "Joking aside, when sports people get involved in drug cases it means they're scraping the bottom of the barrel.

"It also means they've lost the real meaning of the sport, which is also to save kids from the street and various dangers, like drugs," Buffon said.

In 2003, Ecuadorean soccer officials suspended Moreno for 20 games after a game there drew complaints about him from both teams. He added 11 minutes of stoppage time to a game between domestic clubs Barcelona and Liga de Quito without recording it.

He resigned a short time later.

Moreno also refereed the United States' opening 3-2 upset of Portugal at the 2002 World Cup.

Comments

[Bmori]

09:06 AM on 09/23/2010

So this why he claimed there was a giant bunny-man offside in Tommasi's goal.
No more "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" referees please Mr Blatter.
I think the unfortunate circumstances his attorney is looking for is that since he isn't a ref anymore, he no longer can sell games.

[daguz80]

12:51 AM on 09/23/2010

I stopped watching the 2002 World Cup after the South Korea vs Italy game, I honestly couldnt believe that South Korea fans believed they earned that victory. Now lets investigate the ref that gave South Korea the win against Spain in 2002.......seems like South Korea knew which refs to buy.

[jimsey]

01:01 PM on 09/23/2010

Yes. The decisions against Spain were even more egregious than Italy's. I've always thought the ref was bought.

[DD2005]

12:23 AM on 09/23/2010

"I think Moreno already had the (heroin) in 2002, but not in his underwear, in his body," - Buffon

I love it!! Way to go GiGi!!

[Jetwash]

07:45 PM on 09/22/2010

Italian fans have been waiting for this day for 8 years now ever since they felt they were robbed in 2002, but they barely made it out of the group and tied the U.S. if I remember right. Moreno did rob them in their game against Korea which magically advanced through the group stage on several disallowed goals by Moreno and another ref. A disgrace. If you check out the Italian news you'll see jubilation over there at Moreno's downfall. They can't seem to get over it especially since they went on to win the World Cup in 2006.

[entheogens]

01:08 PM on 09/23/2010

I just checked out La Gazetta dello Sport and was shocked that this story was not the headline. However, they do have this, which I found hilarious: http://www.gazzetta.it//gallery/Calcio/09-2010/moreno/byron-moreno-arrestato-droga-711213447967.shtml#8

[sjb805]

07:35 PM on 09/22/2010

It seems like things have gone downhill for this guy since he resigned from his job. He obviously wasn't very experienced or skilled in the art of drug trafficking. Has anyone checked to see if he has a gambling habit? As a referee he would be in the perfect position to influence the outcomes of games and he has made several questionable calls in the past.

[TechGuy036]

06:05 PM on 09/22/2010

Wow. The ultimate foul. I hope he wasn't either on drugs or being bought off when he was actually refereeing soccer matches.

[Artamentous]

06:12 PM on 09/22/2010

are you serious? He added 11 minutes of extra time to a game.

[Prousa]

05:39 PM on 09/22/2010

GAAAAAOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!

[Simondj]

11:37 AM on 09/23/2010

GAOL?

WTF is that?

[entheogens]

01:10 PM on 09/23/2010

Gaol: another spelling of jail

[RockyGibraltar]

05:29 PM on 09/22/2010

That was most definitely 'unsporting behavior.'

[mmike1969]

05:09 PM on 09/22/2010

Okay, dude... You are not Steve Jobs or Paris Hilton! You can NOT smuggle illegal items into this country!

[GossipSports]

04:24 PM on 09/22/2010

Times are tough..

[Alva Mahaffey-Johnson]

03:39 PM on 09/22/2010

That explains a lot of his calls during the WC...he was high.

[FalstaffsMind]

03:16 PM on 09/22/2010

Who comes to the United States to buy heroin so they can take it elsewhere? Did he have a super saver ticket or something?

[Hnorc]

03:28 PM on 09/22/2010

Huh? He was caught trying to bring it into the US, not out of it.

[FalstaffsMind]

03:38 PM on 09/22/2010

That makes more sense. I really need to read these things closer before commenting.

[America08]

02:09 PM on 09/22/2010

In this day and age who would try to smuggle 10 lbs of heroin???? I can't even get snowglobes through screening!! Just stupid.

[Ralph Noyes]

01:28 PM on 09/22/2010

This reminds me of the ref from Mali who robbed America in the last World Cup.

I sure wish the FIFA would pick referees for the World Cup on merit, not on PC playground politics.

[patman77]

01:03 PM on 09/22/2010

lethal inj or the chair.