Lionel Messi Rips New MLS Sideline Rule After Injury Scare in Inter Miami Win

Julia StumbaughMay 12, 2024

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Lionel Messi was not happy that new MLS rules sidelined him for two minutes following an injury scare in the first half of Inter Miami’s 3-2 Saturday night win over Montreal.

“These types of rules…it’s going bad,” Messi said, per ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano.

Messi’s comments, originally made in Spanish, were made as the Inter Miami star turned to the camera and shook his head over being sidelined.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino agreed after the game that the rule “must be revised,” per Becherano.

Messi went down clutching his left knee in the 40th minute after being fouled by Montréal defender George Campbell. After being looked at by medical staff, Messi got up and walked to the sideline.

According to the MLS rulebook for the 2024 season, “If the referee stops play due to a potential player injury in which the player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the medical staff enters the field of play, the player may be required to leave the field of play for two minutes.”

This two-minute period begins when the ball is back in play, according to the rules.

This does not apply if the injury is caused by a foul that resulted in a yellow or red card, according to the rulebook, but Campbell did not receive either.

This rule is meant to give “medical staffs time to treat players, while also allowing match play to resume quickly,” according to the league.

But Martino expressed frustration that lack of a yellow card on Campbell impacted Messi’s ability to play.

“As I understand it, the team that suffered the foul was punished,” Martino said, per Becherano. “With these new rule changes, 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.”

Inter Miami went on to win despite no scoresheet marks from Messi, who has 10 goals and 12 assists in nine games during his second MLS season. The Argentinian national star and former FC Barcelona captain leads all league players in assists despite missing four games.