Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano has sparked controversy online after coaching his team over the phone from the stands, despite receiving a red card at halftime.
Lionel Messi’s side, who sat the game out through injury but watched the game from his VIP box in the stands, similar to that of coach Mascherano, overcame Mexican side Tigres 2-1 in the quarter-final of the Leagues Cup.
Former Barcelona and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez scored two penalties, including one just a minute from time, to cancel out ex-Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa’s second-half solo effort.
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But as the teams headed down the tunnel for half-time, with the score at 1-0 to Miami, referee Mario Escobar handed a red card to Miami boss, and former Liverpool midfielder, Mascherano.
A Luis Suarez penalty brace sent David Beckham's side through to the Leagues Cup semi-final
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The Argentinian and his assistant, Javier Morales, were perplexed by the decision, so much so that Escobar had to offer a brief explanation.
"The referee added four minutes and we ended up playing six minutes. So we argued about the time,” Morales said, who completed media duties after the game following the red card.
"We're human, we start to talk and the referee said Javier got a red card and that's it. We didn't have much information.
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Javier Macherano was sent off during the game and appeared incensed by the decision | X“We came out for the second half, and Javier was told he had been sent off.”
Following the red card, usual protocol ensued: Mascherano was sent to the stands, with Morales given the duty of coaching the team from the touchline.
However, the Argentinian could be seen from the stands barking instructions down the phone to the coaches on the touchline.
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“Tell me one time you’ve seen that,” Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman asked Jake Zivin during the broadcast. “How’s that any different from him being on the bench?”
“He’s certainly within earshot of everybody,” Zivin said.
With Mashcerano still influencing the team on the pitch, it seemingly demeans the red card in the first place.
The incident sparked controversy online, too. One fan pointed: “He shouldn’t be allowed to continue to communicate with his club if he’s red-carded.”
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The Inter Miami boss could be seen barking instructions down the phone to his assistant on the touchline
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Another questioned: “How is this legal?”
A third pointed to alleged preferential treatment of the club, writing: “Miami gets to do whatever they want.”
It has been noted that Mascherano’s actions were legal, as per the tournament’s rules, there is nothing stating you cannot converse with the touchline if you are in the stands.
That being said, it does lead to the question of what the point of the red card is if Mascherano can still have a decisive influence after receiving punishment.
The English game has seen some iconic managerial sending-offs, most notably Arsene Wenger’s infamous Old Trafford escapade.
The iconic French manager held his arms aloft as if to say ‘What am I supposed to do?’ As he stood in front of 70,000 rival fans, taunting him in a moment that has gone down in Premier League folklore.