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Inter Miami and Lionel Messi advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday after defeating Orlando City 3-1 at DRV PNK Stadium. Messi scored twice in the victory, but that’s not the big discussion this time.
Some fans are questioning calls from the referee and joking that the tournament is rigged for Messi and Miami.
The two major incidents that raised eyebrows were a soft penalty call in Miami’s favor in the second half and the lack of a foul called against Messi.
Let’s start with the no-call on Messi. This sequence is a little suspicious if I do say so myself. It starts with the Argentine bodying Orlando’s César Araújo. The ball was long gone and still Messi dumped him to the grass.
When Araújo tracked back to take the ball off Messi he had a foul called on him for…. what exactly?
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) August 3, 2023
Messi ya arbitra sus partidos .pic.twitter.com/TLfcq8Ty3G
— Arbitro Entrenador (@ChiquimarcoMx) August 3, 2023
Inter Miami are playing with 12 players. I’ve never seen a worse referee in my life.
Messi who was on a yellow card should’ve been given a red card, Busquets literally choked an opponent right in front of the ref, and the referee gifted them a penalty.The fix is in pic.twitter.com/FjDVqo47NM
— German (@PopOutGerman) August 3, 2023
Now onto the penalty call. It’s not pretty.
This one didn’t involve Messi as Josef Martinez went down in the box during the second half with the game tied 1-1. The penalty call left plenty of people scratching their heads including the person in charge of Orlando City’s Twitter account. Martinez would convert the penalty kick to put Miami up 2-1.
The Leagues Cup is rigged for Inter Miami, MLS wants Messi to make a deep run and possibly win it.
How is this a penalty kick??
pic.twitter.com/xWDO5YwPfb— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) August 3, 2023
Penalty given to Miami for ???
⚫️ 1-1 [50'] #MIAvORL— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 3, 2023
It's worth mentioning that the referee gave Messi a yellow card in the 21st minute for a reckless foul. Not 100% rigged then!
messi getting a yellow card LMFAO pic.twitter.com/s4zBpMnqiZ
— t (@neymarjrsolos) August 3, 2023
There also can’t be too many complaints about Messi’s goals. These look clear of any rigging allegations.
That man Messi
Robert Taylor drops a dime to Messi for the #InterMiamiCF goal. pic.twitter.com/KH8bMykPd4— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
ANOTHER MESSI BRACE ✔️
Messi makes it a 3-1 lead for #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/8abWvRIeHj— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
Up next for Inter Miami is a battle at Toyota Stadium against FC Dallas on Sunday, Aug. 6. Messi has fared well in Miami, but can he do it on an ungodly hot evening in Frisco, Texas?
