Lionel Messi was cleared after a review by Major League Soccer (MLS) found that the Argentine star did not violate any policy when he followed the match officials through a doorway following Inter Miami’s season-opening 3-0 defeat at LAFC.
In the video, Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez is seen attempting to restrain Messi by the arm, but the Argentina captain still managed to walk through the doorway in the bowels of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before re-emerging moments later.
The league spokesperson disclosed that MLS reviewed the incident, which occurred on Saturday and was captured on video, and determined the area Messi entered was not the referees’ locker room, nor was it a restricted area, and therefore no policy was violated.
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The spokesperson told Reuters on Sunday that restricted areas at the venue would have had clear signage.
Defending champions Miami opened the season with a 3-0 loss in a game that drew 75,673 fans and was the highest-attended match in MLS opening weekend history.
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