The shocking moment occurred in the 66th minute when Ceballos showed Bolivar a red card while he was off the pitch. Before she could fully raise the card, Bolivar stormed up to her and, in the process of turning away, struck her across the face with his right hand.
An outraged Ceballos reacted by attempting to kick Bolivar before being restrained. Teammates and officials rushed in, with one goalkeeper pushing Bolivar away from the referee as chaos unfolded on the pitch.
Video of the altercation quickly spread online, sparking outrage from fans and calls for strict punishment.
In response, Bolivar posted a lengthy apology on Instagram, admitting his behaviour was “disrespectful and inappropriate.” He denied deliberately hitting Ceballos, claiming he was trying to grab the whistle from her mouth.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that at no time was there any physical aggression toward the referee,” he wrote. “However, I understand that my gesture was offensive and contrary to the values of football and respect. Therefore, I humbly apologize to her, her family, the women, and everyone who was affected by what happened.”
Bolivar added that he rejects any form of violence, “especially against women,” and pledged to work on his personal and athletic discipline.
Colombian football authorities are expected to announce disciplinary measures soon, with Bolivar possibly facing a lengthy suspension.
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