FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano criticized Major League Soccer’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi for the team’s home match vs. FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26 over skipping the All-Star Game.
Messi and Jordi Alba were both out due to league discipline as Inter Miami and Cincinnati played to a scoreless draw at Chase Stadium.
“Now I have a question: What if today’s game was an away game?’ Mascherano said afterwards. ‘Would you ask for Leo not to play? Because when it comes to filling stadiums and making money, no one complains.
“The thing is: This game happened to be a home game. That’s the issue. I’ll leave it up to you to decide.”
Mascherano also questioned officiating against Inter Miami. The club is the only team in the league to not have a penalty kick granted this season.
There were two instances against Cincinnati where they should have received a penalty call, Inter Miami contested. Luis Suarez and Fafa Picault incurred contact on two separate plays, but no penalty was awarded.
“A team that has scored as many goals as we have in MLS … zero penalties,” Mascherano said. “Strange, considering how much we’re in the area, zero penalties. I’ll leave that for you to think about.”
Inter Miami did get the most controversial call of the match to go their way against Cincinnati, though.
Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson scored a header (90’+3’), but appeared to hit Inter Miami defender Noah Allen in the head during the score. The play was ruled a foul on the field, and VAR wasn’t enough to overturn it to a goal.
“The referee delayed the whistle to allow the opportunity for VAR to review for a possible goal. After the VAR check, the referee’s decision was confirmed,” lead referee Tori Penso said in a pool report after the match.
Mascherano was seen yelling “do your job” at least twice towards officials, including Penso, resulting in a yellow card being shown in the first-year coach’s direction in the 70th minute.
Both sides earned one point in the standings after the draw. Inter Miami maintained fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points, while Cincinnati (49 points) dropped to second place behind Philadelphia (50 points).