According to an MLS announcement on 22/2, the league reviewed the entire situation that occurred after the season opener between Inter Miami and LAFC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Previously, a video posted on social media platform X by Sintesis Deportes reporter Giovanni Guerrero showed Messi reacting intensely and advancing towards the group of referees as they entered a doorway within the stadium.
In the video, the Argentinian forward appeared to want to approach the referee crew. Luis Suarez held Messi back, but he broke free and disappeared behind the door for a few seconds before returning and joining his teammates in the Inter Miami locker room.
An MLS spokesperson stated that the area Messi entered "was not a restricted area, which would have been clearly marked with signage", and affirmed it was not the referees' locker room. "The league reviewed the events and found no violation of MLS policy by Messi or any other involved individual", the league representative said.
Chris Rivett, communications director for the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) — the body that oversees professional refereeing in North America — also confirmed with the match officials that Messi did not enter their locker room.
This incident echoes a similar event in 2023 when FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga was suspended for three matches (later reduced to two). Miazga received the suspension for entering the referees' locker room after a play-off match against the New York Red Bulls. At the time, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) stated Miazga was "forcibly removed" after angrily confronting the referees — a description that FC Cincinnati disputed.
In Miazga's case, organizers also used video as a basis for investigation, though the footage was not publicly released. The defender missed two play-off matches, and Cincinnati was subsequently eliminated in the Eastern Conference final.
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Lionel Messi (in pink jersey) passes the ball during Inter Miami's 0-3 loss to LAFC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, USA on 21/2. *Photo: AP* |
Messi has often expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing in MLS. After a 0-3 loss to Orlando City in 2025, he criticized referee Guido Gonzales Jr for overlooking a back-pass situation where the goalkeeper handled the ball. Orlando then scored in the next play, and Messi claimed Gonzales admitted not calling the foul.
"Sometimes errors happen at crucial moments", the Argentinian star said. "It's not an excuse, but there are always issues with refereeing, and I think MLS needs to review its officiating".
One match prior to that, Messi and Suarez both received yellow cards for reacting to the referee. Four days before that, in a match against San Jose Earthquakes, the Argentinian superstar was again booked after raising his voice at referee Joe Dickerson, believing a foul was missed in stoppage time.
Despite numerous criticisms of referees, Messi has never been disciplined for conduct related to match officiating in MLS. He was previously fined for putting his hand on the neck of NYC FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy after a match last year, and suspended for one match for missing the MLS All-Star game.
Hong Duy (according to The Guardian)
