The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Adjudication & Disciplinary Panel has ordered a replay of the Sharktopus FC vs. Bellevue Athletic Second Qualifying Round match of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in response to a protest made by Sharkopus FC.
The replay has been ordered to protect the integrity of the competition based on the presence of a conflict of interest, as the referee was confirmed to be a recent player for Bellevue Athletic’s second team, B2.
The Panel wants to be clear for the record that its decision does not reflect any evidence or belief that any party attempted to influence the competition, nor should the decision be viewed as a referendum of the on-field performance of the match officials during the match in question.
