A rival coach’s intervention saved Lionel Messi from a red card as Inter Miami’s alarming run of form continued.
The Florida outfit rescued a 3-3 draw away to the San Jose Earthquakes thanks to Tadeo Allende’s second-half strike.
Miami’s result meant Javier Mascherano’s side have won just once in their last six matches across all competitions.
The draw also seemed to push Messi’s frustrations regarding Miami’s patchy run of form over the edge as he angrily confronted referee Joe Dickerson at full-time.
Messi pointed his finger at Dickerson, only for the official to fire off a warning shot at the Argentinian superstar in the form of a yellow card.
However, the booking did not seem to dissuade Messi from further airing his grievances and even gestured towards Dickerson to brandish another yellow card to send him off.
Dickerson responded: “Do you want me to send you off? Walk away.”
It took Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena to calm Messi down as he guided the Miami superstar away from the officials after the match.
Speaking after the contest, Arena revealed he intervened because a red card for Messi following the match would have looked ‘ridiculous’.
“Yes, yes he was [unhappy],” Arena said.
“As you know, there’s a universal language when you’re talking about referees. He was obviously not happy.
“And I really wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card, and that’s why I just tried to move him out of the way.
Apple TVMessi sarcastically gave a thumbs-up to the referee after he was booked post-match[/caption]
“Because for him to get a red card at the end of the game would have been ridiculous.
“So I just wanted to make sure we get him out of there and he’s ready to play the next game for Miami.”
When Miami coach Mascherano was asked about the post-match scenes, he responded: “I have no idea what was said.”
Mascherano lamented a calamitous defensive performance from his side in the first half.
The visitors conceded all three goals in the opening 45 minutes as a string of errors continually gifted San Jose with goalscoring opportunities.
“We are making a lot of mistakes that sometimes finish with goals,” Mascherano said.
“We have to focus on the positive things. The team was fighting and trying to win the game. This is the way in terms of spirit.
“Then we have to improve a lot. We cannot concede the goals that we conceded today. It’s impossible if we want to fight for important things.
“We have to take a step forward.”
Miami’s draw left them fifth in the Eastern Conference on 22 points and are only six points off conference leaders Cincinnati.
However, the defending Supporters’ Shield champions have conceded an alarming 18 goals, a figure worse than CF Montreal and Toronto FC who are last and second-last in the Eastern Conference respectively.
