Major League Soccer has cleared Lionel Messi of any wrongdoing after the Argentine star appeared to confront match officials following Inter Miami's season-opening 3-0 loss to LAFC on Saturday evening. A video posted on social media showed Messi pursuing officials as they entered a doorway at the LA Coliseum, with teammate Luis Suárez seen restraining him before Messi slipped away and briefly disappeared behind a door.
An MLS spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian on Sunday that the area Messi entered was not a restricted zone or the referees' locker room, and that the league reviewed the incident and found no policy violations. Chris Rivett, director of communications at the Professional Referee Organization, added that match officials confirmed Messi did not enter their locker room.
The incident drew comparisons to a 2023 case involving FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga, who received a three-match suspension—later reduced to two—for entering the referees' changing room after a playoff match. However, MLS determined that the circumstances were different, as Messi did not enter a restricted area.
Messi has a history of criticising officials in MLS. After a 3-0 loss to Orlando City SC in 2025, he used a rare post-game interview on Apple TV to criticise referee Guido Gonzales Jr for missing a backpass, stating that the referee admitted the error. In prior matches, Messi and Suárez received yellow cards for dissent, and Messi was carded after a game against the San Jose Earthquakes for angrily confronting referee Joe Dickerson.
Despite these incidents, Messi has never faced disciplinary action for his conduct towards referees in MLS. He has been disciplined for other matters: fined for placing his hands around NYC FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy's neck after a match last year, and suspended for one game last summer for missing the MLS All-Star Game.
