Frank Christian
On May 14, Inter Miami played to a 3-3 stalemate against the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer at PayPal Park.
Both teams demonstrated great effort throughout the match but ultimately shared the spoils, each earning a point. Currently, Inter Miami sits in fifth place on the MLS standings, accumulating 22 points over 12 games.
During the match, an unusual event took place as Lionel Messi lost his cool on the field. After the final whistle, he approached referee Joe Dickerson, looking visibly displeased.
Messi expressed his frustration over a foul that was not called in front of San Jose’s goal area and the subsequent decision not to award him a free-kick outside the box.
Following the match, Messi confronted Dickerson to voice his grievances about the missed calls, which he believed could have influenced Inter Miami’s outcome. The referee, however, was not receptive to Messi’s objections and issued him a yellow card almost immediately.
Even after receiving the first yellow, Messi continued to argue with the official, increasing the risk of being sent off.
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Lionel Messi restrained by coaches to prevent a red card
As Messi lingered in his criticism of the referee’s decision, Dickerson warned him to ‘walk away’ or face a possible red card.
“Do you want me to send you off? Walk away!” Dickerson stated.
Messi had to be physically restrained by the coaching staff of the San Jose Earthquakes, with head coach Bruce Arena stepping in to ensure Messi did not receive a red card.
In the post-match media briefing, Arena discussed Messi’s confrontation with the referee, stating he aimed to prevent the star player from being sent off in the heat of the moment.
“There’s a shared understanding when discussing referees. He was clearly upset, and I wanted to ensure he wouldn’t get a red card, which would have been absurd at that point. My goal was to remove him from the situation so that he would be ready for our next game,” Arena remarked.
Messi and his teammates will be back in MLS action on May 18 to face Orlando City at Chase Stadium.
Recent Lionel Messi updates and links
- Inter Miami’s coach clearly desires Messi’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup
- Lionel Messi is expected to sign a new agreement with Inter Miami
- Key Lionel Messi statement regarding the 2026 World Cup made by a teammate
