Messi's Injury Scare Sparks Debate on MLS Officiating

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino has called for a review of Major League Soccer officiating after a new rule saw Lionel Messi forced to leave the field for two minutes following a seemingly innocuous foul.

Inter Miami's emphatic 3-2 victory over Montreal CF on Sunday was overshadowed by a controversial moment involving star player Lionel Messi, which has reignited scrutiny over Major League Soccer officiating.

In the 40th minute, Messi was fouled near midfield and went down holding his left knee, writhing in pain. The incident prompted concerns over his fitness, but after receiving treatment from Inter Miami's medical staff, he returned to the pitch two minutes later, as per a new MLS rule.

As Messi left the field, broadcast microphones captured him voicing his frustration in Spanish, saying, "With these types of rules ... it's going bad."

The new rule states that if a player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and medical staff enters the field, they must leave the pitch for two minutes. However, certain circumstances exempt players from this rule, such as if the injury occurred on a yellow or red card foul. In Messi's case, the foul was not punished with a card.

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino expressed his dissatisfaction with both the officiating and the rule itself.

"In Leo's situation, he was clearly fouled," Martino said. "The player deserved a yellow card, which would mean Messi would've never left the field for two minutes. As I understand it, the team that suffered the foul was punished."

Martino believes that the new rule needs to be revised, arguing that "there are situations that must be revised. The infraction was clear and was a yellow card, and ultimately it was us that lost Leo for two minutes."

Messi's absence from the field briefly put Inter Miami at a disadvantage, as they were down 2-0 at the time. However, his teammates rallied, with Matías Rojas scoring a free kick goal caused by the foul on Messi. Messi returned to the pitch shortly after and was present when Luis Suarez's goal late in the first half pulled Inter Miami level.

Despite Messi's injury scare and the absence of a goal or assist, Inter Miami secured a 3-2 victory, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches. The team remains the Eastern Conference leader, with Messi having made a significant contribution to their success in the nine MLS appearances he has made this season.

Messi's injury scare and the subsequent debate over MLS officiating have highlighted the need for a review of the league's regulations. While the new rule aims to protect players from serious injuries, it also raises questions about fairness and potential consequences during crucial moments of matches. The Associated Press contributed to this report.