Lionel Messi was cleared after a Major League Soccer review found he did not violate any policies when he followed match officials through a doorway after Inter Miami’s season-opening 0-3 loss at LAFC, a league spokesman said Sunday.
MLS reviewed the incident, which occurred Saturday and was captured on video, and determined that the area Messi entered was not the referee’s locker room or a restricted area, and therefore no policy was violated, the spokesperson said. Reuters.
READ ALSO: Cold night for Messi as LAFC beats Inter Miami 3-0 in MLS season opener
The video shows Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez trying to restrain Messi by his arm, but the Argentine still manages to walk through the doorway of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before emerging moments later.
The spokesperson said restricted areas at the site would have had clear signage.
Inter Miami did not immediately respond when asked Reuters for comment.
Defending champion Miami opened the season with a loss in a match that drew 75,673 fans and was the most attended match in MLS opening weekend history.
Published on February 23, 2026
