Oscar Pareja has denounced the ‘circus’ around Lionel Messi and claimed the Inter Miami star should have been sent off on his last outing.
The Argentinian icon was in action again in the League Cup on Wednesday against Florida neighbors Orlando City. Messi netted a brace in that encounter to earn his side a 3-1 win and advance to the round of 16, but tempers sometimes ran high in that derby at the DRV PNK Stadium. Messi was the first player to be sanctioned following a clumsiness in the 20th minute, and he could have received a second yellow and then a red after shouldering Cesar Araujo in stoppage time. the first half.
The Orlando coach, Oscar Pareja, did not appreciate the arbitration and the preferential treatment that would have benefited the man considered by some to be the greatest player of all time. He told reporters after the meeting: “Tonight was the circus. There was a second yellow on Messi (which was not given). I don’t care if it’s Messi.”
The Colombian added that there was no penalty for his team: The penalties, among other things, were ridiculous. We were very frustrated and tried to regain our composure. There were circumstances in that game that shouldn’t have happened.”
