Home » Inter Miami – Messi threw F* word to referee before grabbing opponent’s neck

Inter Miami – Messi threw F* word to referee before grabbing opponent’s neck

In a wild match between Inter Miami and New York City FC, Lionel Messi ended up with a yellow card for cursing at the referee—and even went as far as grabbing the neck of the opposing coach’s assistant. But despite the drama, Messi’s magic helped save his team in a hard-fought draw.

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Messi threw the F word to the referee before grabbing opponent’s coach’s neck

Inter Miami took the lead early, but things got complicated when Tomas Aviles, who scored the opening goal, was sent off in the first half. Trailing after losing a man, Messi and his teammates had to fight hard to level the score in stoppage time at 90+10.

Frustrated with the officiating by referee Alexis Da Silva, Messi vented his anger on the field. He aggressively confronted the ref—earning a yellow card that finally made him back off. Still fuming, he got into a tussle with the opposing coach’s assistant, Mehdi Ballouchy, even grabbing him by the neck before storming off.

Match Recap

Inter Miami’s struggle was real. The visitors, New York City FC, had pulled one goal back earlier with strikes from Mitja Ilenic and Alonso Martinez in the 26th and 55th minutes. But Messi turned the game on its head.

• In the 5th minute, he set up Tomas Aviles’ opener.
• Then, with the pressure mounting and with his team down a man, Messi provided another brilliant assist in the 90+10 minute to Telasco Segovia, ensuring a late equalizer.

His decisive contributions helped Inter Miami salvage a vital point in a match filled with controversy and tension.

Fan Reactions on X (Twitter) on Messi swearing at referee

Reactions on social media were mixed. Some fans cheered Messi for showing passion and care for his team, while others weren’t having it:

🚨 THE MEDIA WONT SHOW YOU THIS:

Messi goes to the assistant referee and grabs him by the neck. He got away with it.pic.twitter.com/A6WZeF4SuE

— TCR. (@TCR_Video) February 23, 2025

“He got away with it.”

Messi just told the Referee “fuck you” and got a yellow card. Barca fans told me that was red when it was Bellingham pic.twitter.com/vRKJQtNcdh

— ZEUS🐐👑 (@RMAzeus) February 23, 2025

This match marked the opening game of the 2025 MLS season. Inter Miami, the defending Supporters’ Shield champions, had started the season on a high note. In their earlier clash during the CONCACAF Champions Cup first leg against Sporting Kansas City, Messi scored the only goal to secure a 1-0 win. The return leg is set for February 25.

Since joining Inter Miami in July 2023, Messi has already helped the club win the Leagues Cup 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024.