Lionel Messi has claimed an MLS referee ‘didn’t know the rule’ after a controversial goal in Inter Miami’s latest defeat.
The defending Supporters’ Shield winners suffered a fifth loss in seven matches across all competitions on Sunday with Javier Mascherano’s men suffering a 3-0 defeat at home to Orlando City.
4
4
It is already the sixth defeat of the former midfielder’s tenure following his appointment in January with Inter Miami now down to sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The defeat was not without incident, though, with Orlando take the lead in bizarre circumstances.
Referee Guido Gonzales Jr waved away calls for an indirect free-kick from the home side.
Messi had been left enraged after Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese appeared to handle a back pass from a teammate.
Play was allowed to continue, though, as Gallese picked out Luis Muriel with a long ball before the forward put the visitors in front.
Marco Pasalic and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson added further goals after the break to secure a 3-0 victory.
However, a furious Messi was still angered by the referee’s decision during a post-match interview.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is quoted by Relevo stating: “It was a strange play, where one of their players passed to the goalkeeper, and the referee himself told me he didn’t know the rule, that he didn’t think so, that he didn’t understand it…
“And, well, that’s where the goalkeeper hit the ball and the goal came.
“But the truth is that sometimes there are specific errors like last game. They’re not excuses, but something always happens with the referees on a specific play.
4
4
“I think MLS should look a little more closely at the refereeing issue.”
Inter Miami’s dip in form has also seen them concede 20 goals across their last seven matches, with just one victory in that period.
Despite the poor form, Messi has called for his teammates to show their solidarity in a bid to turn their fortunes around.
He added: “Now we’ll truly see if we’re a team, in the tough moments, because when everything’s going well it’s very easy.
“But when difficult moments like now arrive, that’s when we have to be more united than ever, be a true team, and pull this through.
“I think we have what it takes, so let’s start thinking about what’s next and preparing for the Philadelphia game.”
Their drop in form comes on the eve of a maiden Club World Cup appearance on home soil this summer.
Inter Miami will face Palmeiras, Porto and Al Ahly during the group stage of the expanded tournament.
