Lionel Messi escaped a red card after he was caught viciously shouting in a referee's face as Inter Miami drew to Charlotte.
Messi got on the scoresheet with a brilliant shot from outside the box in a 1-1 draw against Charlotte on Saturday night in the MLS.
However, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was furious at the end of the match after he felt he was fouled in the box.
When a penalty was overturned by VAR, Messi lost his cool and fumed at the match officials.
Lionel Messi has been accused of making an explicit comment directed at the referee
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But that was not the end as just moments later, Inter Miami were denied another spot-kick in the dying moments of the match.
Luis Suarez collided with the goalkeeper in stoppage time but the decision was made not to award a penalty.
And that rage had not subsided by full-time as he made a bee-line for the referee before launching into a verbal tirade.
According to Argentinian newspaper Ole, via Mundo Deportivo, Messi called the referee a 'mean-spirited son of a b****'.
It saw the former Barcelona star receive a yellow card, though he might have been lucky to escape a red card for the confrontation.
Even though Inter Miami did not claim the victory, they are still closing in on silverware this season.
If they beat Columbus Crew in their next fixture, they can win the Supporters' Shield which is awarded to the best team in the MLS regular season.
Victory would also assure them of a no. 1 seeding spot in the MLS Cup, having already qualified for the play-offs.
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الحكم يشهر البطاقة الصفراء للاسطورة 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/BL3eSRt2Tp
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) September 29, 2024
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game: “I wish this were a 34-date tournament and the one that scores the most points would be the champion.
"Then this would be fabulous, we see it with good eyes, to be the best team of the regular phase.
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Lionel Messi had fumed at the decision not to give a penalty
"But the truth is that we would all feel very empty if we do not fight for the championship.
“So, yes, we have a very important game, but even so, the remaining games – Toronto and New England – will also be important and decisive games.
"I think we will surely be in the fight until the last matchday."
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