Do we know what Messi and Suárez said to the referees after the loss to Monterrey?

Several people at Chase Stadium have confirmed a heated friction between Inter Miami players, referees and Monterrey’s coaching staff. Apparently, at the end of the match, Messi, Luis Suarez, Tata Martino and Jordi Alba began a series of complaints about the referee after losing 1-2 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

During the angry protest, Tano Ortiz and his assistant, Nico Sánchez, appeared and reportedly confronted Messi himself. Fox Sports journalist, Fernando Schwart, claimed that Rayados have now asked CONCACAF for the minutes of just what happened, meaning this case could well carry on.

Although none of those allegedly involved have commented on the matter, let alone spoken about what, if anything, was said, many journalists linked to Mexican soccer have confirmed that the event took place. The Argentine star was not part of the squad due to injury concerns, but he was in the stands supporting his team and after the match went to the dressing room with the rest of the side, just at the moment when they met the referee, when everything was said to have started.

One of the main factors that may have fuelled the supposed argument were the words of Tano Ortiz, the Argentine coach of Rayados, regarding the referee’s help: “Everything that surrounds Messi can lead to sporting and non-sporting decisions”, the Monterrey coach said a few days before the game.

After these statements by the Rayados coach, the next question was whether he believed that Monterrey could have a disadvantage in the match: “Obviously, I don’t know if it would harm us, but the business is not about us. In terms of things on the pitch, we are going to win. Afterwards, I can’t handle other things”, said Ortiz in response to being asked about the possible help received by Messi and Argentina during the last World Cup.

Despite his possible involvement in the alleged altercation, Messi did not feature in the game. “It’s one match at a time”, said Martino after the game, “we understood that this was not the match for him to be in, he was not ready. That’s how it will be against Colorado (Rapids), that’s how it will be with the return leg in Monterrey, but he’s feeling better every day, it’s just that today we were taking too big a risk”.

Inter Miami will now aim to turn the tie around in the spicy second leg when the two side go again, this time at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, México next Wednesday, April 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT. You can follow that game live with AS USA.