Lionel Messi upset by new MLS injury rule

Miami's Argentine star had to leave the game against Montreal briefly at a crucial moment after receiving treatment on the field.

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami expressed his Sorry about the new rule of Major League Soccer That forces a The injured player must remain off the field for two minutes“With these kinds of rules … we're doing poorly,” he said after leaving the field during Saturday night's 3-2 win over Montreal.

In the 40th minute of the game, Montreal defender Jorge Campbell fouled the Argentine forward, who grabbed his knee and forced him to go down immediately. Miami's medical personnel quickly entered the field to treat the player, however, Campbell was not alerted to the play.

Due to new regulations MLS“If the referee stops the match due to injury to the player, in which the player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the medical team enters the field, The player must leave the field for two minutes“.

Lionel Messi He left the field at a crucial moment, a foul that led to a free throw for Miami, and the player was in position to score.

During his brief stay with the band, Veerer turned to the camera and shook his head angrily to express his annoyance.

After the game, the technical director MiamiGerardo Martino expressed the team's frustration: “There are situations that need to be reviewed.

“In the circumstances LeoHe got a foul which I think deserved a yellow card and that's why he shouldn't have been out for two minutes. I understand that the offending party has been punished. Obviously, with this problem of changing the rules, there are situations that need to be reconsidered. For me, the violation was clear, it was a yellow, and finally we lost Leo For two minutes.”

The team then experienced another new fate. MLS When Luis Suarez didn't leave the field for less than 10 seconds in the 92nd minute, Suarez's slow walk in the 92nd minute delayed the substitution by a minute, and Miami had 10 men. Final moments of the game.

“In the case of Luis, we had a very important difference with the fourth referee regarding one minute. Luis left the field less than a minute later, the fourth referee didn't understand that. That's why Leo Campana had to do it. Delay in admission,” Martino said.

As stated therein MLSThe rule states, “If a team makes multiple substitutions at once, each player leaving the game must leave the field within 10 seconds after the fourth official raises the board for the final substitution.”

Despite the off-field issues, the win was encouraging Inter Miami They should continue to lead the Eastern Conference with 27 points in 13 games and an 8-2-3 record (GPE).