Major League Soccer has cleared Lionel Messi of any policy violation after the Inter Miami star appeared to confront match officials following his team's season-opening 3-0 loss to LAFC on Saturday evening. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, showed Messi pursuing officials as they entered a doorway at the LA Coliseum.
An MLS spokesperson told the Guardian on Sunday that the area Messi entered was not a restricted zone and was not the referees' locker room. "The league reviewed the sequence, and did not find Messi or another person involved in violation of any league policies," the spokesperson said. Chris Rivett, director of communications at the Professional Referee Organization, confirmed that match officials reported Messi did not enter their locker room.
The video showed Miami forward Luis Suárez attempting to restrain Messi, who slipped from his grip and disappeared behind a door before emerging seconds later. The incident drew comparisons to a 2023 case involving FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, who received a three-match suspension—later reduced to two—for entering the referee's changing room after a playoff match.
Messi has a history of criticising officials in MLS. After a 3-0 loss to Orlando City SC in 2025, he used a post-game interview to criticise referee Guido Gonzales Jr for missing a backpass. Earlier this season, Messi and Suárez received yellow cards for dissent, and Messi was also carded after a match against the San Jose Earthquakes for confronting referee Joe Dickerson.
Despite these incidents, Messi has never faced disciplinary action for his conduct towards referees in MLS. He has been fined for placing his hands around NYC FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy's neck and served a one-game suspension for missing the MLS All-Star Game last summer.
