USMNT's Chris Richards Says Concacaf Refs 'Hate Us' After Gold Cup Loss to Mexico

A number of questionable decisions went against the United States men's national team during Sunday's 2-1 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final, including what appeared to be a handball by Mexican defender Jorge Sánchez that wasn't called.

And USMNT defender Chris Richards didn't hold back while discussing it.

"The thing about Concacaf is that I feel like we're always one step behind with the refereeing," he told reporters.

Richards also took issue with the referees appearing to miss an offside call against Mexico's César Montes during the country's game-winning goal in the 77th minute.

"In any other league, that would have been called offside," Richards said. “But again, that's Concacaf for you. They hate us and we just have to keep moving with it."

Manager Mauricio Pochettino didn't hold back when discussing the officiating either, in particular taking issue with the non-call on the Sánchez handball.

"I don't want to cry. I'm not going to cry. I wanted to tell the truth. The truth was that if that happened in the opposite half in their box for sure it's a penalty," he told reporters. "Because we cannot talk about rules. You say it's a silly penalty, it's a silly penalty. Plenty of penalties are so silly. Silly, yes. The player was with the knee on the floor, he pushed the hand over the ball. It's not that the hand was on the floor and the ball touched. OK, all the excuses now but that was a penalty and maybe 2-1 for us and maybe now we are celebrating the trophy."

"I think that it is clear," he continued. "And it's not about to cry, or to complain or to put excuses in the difference things. For me it was embarrassing to see that situation. It's a shame. Because I understand maybe 70,000 people, giving this penalty is not easy. But maybe against [us] it is easier. That is what we need to learn. I am so proud of the team. Keep going, keep fighting, keep pushing. One year until the World Cup. So many positives to take."

Not everybody agreed with Richards and Pochettino that it should have been a penalty, however:

It was a tough outcome for the USMNT in the final, but the squad's overall performance in the Gold Cup was admirable, given the lack of first-choice players available to Pochettino due to injuries, scheduled rest or Club World Cup commitments.

Add it to the long list of heated and controversial matchups between the USMNT and Mexico throughout the years.