Lionel Messi again got the newspaper headlines again this weekend not all of them were positive after the 2-2 draw of Inter Miami with New York City.
Messi played a key role in Miami that took a last-gasp draw, his thread through the ball so that Telasco Segovia could make it the same in a pulsating 2-2 draw.
The Argentina -Superster had previously helped Miami’s opener via Toto Aviles.
Aviles was then sent and New York fully benefited with goals from Mitja Ilenic and Alonso Martinez and they seemed to be on their way to an impressive victory during the opening weekend of the new MLS season to the late intervention of Segovia.
So why did Messi get criticism?
It is not often that Messi is animated, but he was clearly furious with the performance of referee Rosendo Mendoza.
Miami was unhappy, not only with the red card of Aviles, but also the failure of the civil servant to reject the Strahinja Tanasijević of New York just before the break.
Messi meant mendoza on the last whistle, aggressively chase and point in his face before he was shown the yellow card.
Clash with ballouchy
Messi was not ready and, while he walked to the touchline, got involved in a chat with the New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy.
In the beginning it seemed fairly lovable, but after initially walking away, Messi turned around and squeezed the back of Ballouchy’s neck and apparently gestured to meet the couple inside.
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The real side of the ‘Humble Lionel Messi’.
The referee did not continue to respect until he was booked and then started taking their assistant coach at the neck.
Embarric behavior. Man child.pic.twitter.com/6lyg6repax
– The CR7 timeline. (@Timelinecr7) February 23, 2025
What is happening now?
The MLS disciplinary committee will automatically assess each match.
The committee consists of a former MLS referee, a former MLS coach and three former MLS players.
If Messi’s behavior does not fall under the committee’s parameters, the competition can still express a sanction.
What can Messi be accused of?
It is unlikely that his result of the competition officer will be revised as it was treated by Mendoza at that time.
However, the collision with Ballouchy was not.
MLS guidelines include a rule that the people of states have seen to contact the face, head and/or neck of an opponent, who encourages or escalates an individual incident (as determined by the disciplinary committee) will at least a fine received. ‘
If the committee does not consider a fine of sufficient, they could forbid him for one or more competitions.
What did Miami boss Mascherano say?
Javier Mascherano refused to discuss Messi’s behavior directly, but made his dissatisfaction with Mendoza’s display quite clear.
He said: “We cannot determine how the referee can decide to officially officiate, and I don’t like to give an opinion, because one day they prefer you, another day they don’t do. That’s just the way it is.
“And I don’t believe in bad intentions, far from. They have the right to make mistakes, as we all make mistakes. “
Mascherano, however, has selected his former Argentina colleague for praise, and added: “Messi is the soul of this team. You saw this on the field. He is a child who plays and he doesn’t want to lose.
“So for us it is a big, big advantage. So we just have to keep him with this mind. Because it’s not just what he does on the field.
“It is what he translates to his teammates and everything he does with his 37 years. He not only plays in attack, he helps us in defense, run the midfield and runs the entire midfield. So it’s beautiful. “
What for Miami and Messi?
Miami returns to action on Tuesday evening when they are confronted with Sporting Kansas City in the second stage of their Concacaf Champions Cup First-round tie.
Messi scored the only goal in the first match last week after the fixture was delayed for 24 hours due to cold weather.
