Controversial World Cup Referee Is Now An Admitted Heroin Smuggler

Byron Moreno refereed the 2002 World Cup match in which America upset Portugal, and cost Italy a chance to advance to the knock-out round with a questionable call against South Korea. He also just copped to smuggling heroin.

Ecuador's Moreno, who is being held without bail, admitted one count of heroin smuggling, spokesman Robert Nardoza said, and faces more than five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

Moreno was arrested last September at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after arriving on a commercial flight from Ecuador with bags of heroin attached to his body, US prosecutors said.

According to a complaint filed in US court, Moreno "became visibly nervous" during a routine inspection and customs agents found plastic bags of heroin attached to various places on his body. [ AFP]

Controversial World Cup Referee Busted With Whole Lotta Heroin At Airport [ Deadspin]

Byron Moreno CONFESSA: "Sono COLPEVOLE": L'ex arbitro rischia fino a 63 mesi di carcere [ Rebubblica.it]