Lionel Messi has a bone to pick in Major League Soccer.
The Inter Miami star was not happy on Saturday night as he was fouled and forced to the sideline for two minutes due to new MLS rules, missing his team’s free kick.
Messi was fouled by Montreal’s George Campbell in the 40th minute, but Campbell was not given a yellow card.
Messi was down on his knees for more than 15 seconds, so he was sent off for two minutes.
While on the sideline, he said in Spanish to a television camera, “These kinds of rules… no more.” According to ESPN.
MLS announced new “off-field treatment regulations” in December.
“If a player with a suspected injury remains on the field for more than 15 seconds, the referee will stop play and send medical personnel onto the field to assess the player. If it is safe to do so, the player will be removed from the field for further evaluation and treatment. will remain off the field for at least two minutes for the following reasons:” MLS said in a statement at the time.
The goal is to allow “medical staff to spend more time treating players, while at the same time allowing games to resume quickly.”
Fouls that lead to a yellow or red card are exceptions to the rule, but Campbell was not given a card, so Messi was forced to miss playing time.
Inter Miami trailed 2-0 after Messi was fouled, but they scored two goals before halftime and won 3-2.
“We have a situation that we have to correct,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino said after the game, according to ESPN. “In Leo’s situation, he was clearly fouled. This player deserved a yellow card, which means Messi did not leave the field for two minutes. My understanding So, the team that committed the foul was penalized.With these new rule changes, there are situations that need to be reviewed. We were the ones who lost.”
