Lionel Messi has slammed the state of officiating within the MLS and the Inter Miami star has requested for the league to look into the problems round referees.
What Did Lionel Messi Say About MLS Referees?
Issues haven’t been simple for Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in current weeks, as David Beckham’s franchise have didn’t win any of their final three matches within the MLS.
Most lately, the Miami-based facet have been overwhelmed 3-0 by fierce enemies, Orlando Metropolis, through the MLS’ rivalry week which is a sport week stuffed with derby days throughout the continent.
Messi, who’s the highest paid participant within the MLS, solely scored as soon as throughout this trio of video games and has began to select up a collection of yellow playing cards from his MLS appearances.
Throughout Inter Miami’s 3-3 draw towards San Jose Earthquakes on Could 14, the previous Barcelona star had a heated argument with the match official, Joe Dickerson, after the ultimate whistle.
Messi wished a free-kick proper on the demise however was waved away by the referee and the ultimate whistle adopted shortly after – leaving Messi to vent his frustration and obtain a yellow card.
Then within the following sport, the 37-year-old obtained one other reserving which was additionally from a disagreement with the official and now Messi has referred to as for an intervention from the MLS of the usual of officiating.
Messi mentioned: “I believe we had an excellent first half (towards Orlando Metropolis). We have been attacking, creating conditions, they couldn’t get out, they have been kicking lengthy balls.
“And from a wierd play, the place considered one of their gamers provides a cross to the goalkeeper and the referee himself instructed me that he didn’t know the rule, that he didn’t perceive it and, nicely, from there got here a ball and got here the objective”
“However the reality is that there are occasions when there are particular errors just like the final sport towards the San Jose Earthquakes) you recognize? They aren’t excuses, however one thing at all times occurs with the referees in some particular play.
“I believe MLS ought to look somewhat extra on the concern of referees.”
Does the MLS Have Poor Match Officers?
The MLS is lots youthful than nearly all of leagues throughout the globe, with soccer being the first sport throughout Europe and enjoying second-fiddle within the U.S. for a number of years.
Slowly however certainly the league has began to catch up, with extra groups forming, higher American expertise rising and star European gamers coming to complete their profession within the MLS.
It’s arduous to say whether or not the officiating is worse than it’s in Europe, nevertheless, there may very well be a slight distinction in requirements as a result of infancy of the MLS.
Curiously, between 2024 and 2025, solely LaLiga averaged extra yellow playing cards than the MLS, with the Spanish League having 4.95 per 90 and the MLS doling out 4.47 per 90.
