Lionel Messi breaks MLS rules minutes after scoring for Inter Miami on league debut
Lionel Messi made his Major League Soccer debut for Inter Miami on Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls and is said to have violated league rules after the game
Lionel Messi has seemingly violated Major League Soccer rules after his league debut for Inter Miami.
Saturday night saw Messi make his MLS bow for Miami against the New York Red Bulls. Gerardo Martino’s team ran out 2-0 winners in what was the first league game for the club since July 16.
However, Messi appears to have broken MLS rules after the victory. That’s because Messi did not speak to reporters after the win at Red Bull Arena.
According to Associated Press, MLS executive vice president of communications Dan Courtemanche said before Miami’s win that Messi, as well as all other players, must be available for media duties post-match. But Messi, who is not a fluent English speaker, did not speak to any reporters after the game.
Inter Miami spokeswoman Molly Dreska told AP after the game that Messi would not be made available for any post-match media duties. That would appear to be a violation of the league’s media policy.
Miami have won all of their eight games with seven of them coming on their way to winning the Leagues Cup. The most recent victory was a penalty shootout win over FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup.
Messi had yet to make his MLS debut prior to Saturday night against the Red Bulls. The Argentina legend had still managed to score 10 goals in his previous eight appearances, and he added to that tally in Harrison, New Jersey.
Martino named Messi on the substitute’s bench, citing the forward’s need to rest after a busy month of football for his new club. Diego Gomez opened the scoring in the first half, with Messi introduced on the hour mark.
With stoppage time looming, Messi managed to find the back of the net in the 89th minute. It was the World Cup winner’s 11th goal in just his ninth appearance for the Florida club since signing as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Miami have a busy schedule coming up in MLS, with Nashville SC as their next opponent on Wednesday evening at the DRV PNK Stadium. That will then be followed by an away trip to Los Angeles FC on Sunday, September 3.
The win over the Red Bulls moved Miami away from the bottom of the Eastern Conference in MLS. Messi and Co now lie in 14th place with 21 points from 23 games and 11 points adrift of the play-off places with 10 league games left to play.
