'Something always happens' - Messi blames referees for Miami latest slip-up

Lionel Messi, hurt after Inter Miami's 3-0 drubbing by Orlando City, criticised refereeing errors on Sunday and argued that MLS should do something to correct the issue.

“I think we had a great first half today. We were attacking, creating chances, they couldn't playing the ball out from the back, they were playing long balls,” he said in comments to the ‘Apple’ broadcast after the match.

“And from a strange play, where a player of theirs gives a pass to the goalkeeper and the referee himself told me that he didn't know the rule, that he hadn't seen that, that he didn't understand it.... And, well, from there came a long ball and the goal”, he argued.

“But the truth is that there are times when there are specific mistakes like last game (against the San Jose Earthquakes)... They are not excuses, but something always happens with the referees in some specific play. I think MLS should take a closer look at the referees,” he added.

Messi was referring to Orlando City's first goal, which came in the 43rd minute after Inter Miami claimed a handball against Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

The referee did not consider it to be a hand-off, Gallese surprised with a long throw-in that inexplicably caught the home defence off-balance and Colombian Luis Muriel only had to control it beautifully to beat Argentine Oscar Ustari and make it 0-1.

This is Inter Miami's fifth loss in the last 7 games counting MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup.

“The truth is that it hurts to lose another game. We came from a period of bad results but we have to keep working and think about what's next. We have 3 or 4 games left to finish the month in the best way and then face the Club World Cup,” said Messi.

In addition, the genius from Rosario considered that in these complicated moments is when they have to show more unity in the team coached by Javier Mascherano and in which this Sunday Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets were also starters.

“Now we will really see if we are a team, in the difficult moments, because when everything is going well it is very easy, but when the difficult moments come like now is when we have to be more united than ever, be a real team and pull it off. I think we have what we need, so we can now think about what is coming and prepare for the match in Philadelphia”, he indicated.