San Jose, California — After a heated 3-3 draw between Inter Miami CF and the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night, coach Bruce Arena played a crucial role in preventing superstar Lionel Messi from receiving a post-match red card. The confrontation occurred after Messi expressed his frustration over a late foul outside the box that went unpunished, leading to a heated exchange with referee Joe Dickerson.
Late in the match, Messi was clearly upset when the referee failed to award Inter Miami a free kick. As the final whistle blew, he approached Dickerson to voice his displeasure, which resulted in a yellow card for dissent. Despite being cautioned, Messi continued to argue, prompting Dickerson to warn him to ‘walk away now.’
Arena intervened during this tense moment, stepping in between the two and escorting Messi away from further confrontation. “I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card because that would have been ridiculous,” Arena said during the postgame news conference. “For him to be sent off at the end of the game wouldn’t have been fair.”
The draw against San Jose came after a challenging period for Inter Miami, where the team suffered a series of disappointing results, including a 4-1 loss to Minnesota United. The recent poor form has left the club with only one win in their past six matches, putting them fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano, Messi’s former teammate, seemed unaware of the intensity of the situation on the field, stating he did not know what was discussed between Messi and the referee.
As Miami looks ahead to their upcoming match against Orlando City at Chase Stadium on May 18, fans will surely appreciate Arena’s timely intervention, ensuring Messi remains available for the upcoming rivalry match, which is set to be a focal point of the league’s Rivalry Week.
Despite the team’s struggles, Messi continues to contribute significantly, assisting in the equalizing goal during the match against the Earthquakes. His talent and experience will be crucial as Miami aims to rebound from this rough stretch and reclaim their momentum in the league.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
