Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano mentioned he abided by Leagues Cup guidelines when sitting within the VIP seats above the membership bench and utilizing his cellular phone to name the video analyst group after getting a purple card within the quarterfinal match vs. Tigres UANL at Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami defeated Tigres 2-1 within the 2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, profitable with out Lionel Messi, who was nursing a hamstring damage. They now advance to the match semifinal towards Orlando Metropolis on Aug. 27.
Additionally they performed the second half with out Mascherano, who was expelled from the sport earlier than the beginning of the second 45 after arguing with the fourth official concerning the extra minutes performed on the finish of the primary half.
“There was an argument there on the finish of the primary half, the place the referee had given 4 minutes of added time, and 6 minutes have been performed. We argued with the fourth official. I did not insult him, however I did argue fairly vehemently,” Mascherano mentioned on Friday.
“After I got here out for the second half, I went to sit down on the bench, the referee got here and gave me the purple card.”
The coach then went to the VIP seats one stage above the membership bench, the place he spent the remainder of the match.
“I abided by the principles and did not break any guidelines. I could not be on the bench, I wasn’t on the bench. I may have even sat in a set as a result of it is a part of the stands, and I did not sit in a set, which means, I may have been subsequent to the bench, within the suite subsequent to the homeowners. I may have sat as a result of it is a part of, for instance, it isn’t my fault how the stadium is configured,” Mascherano mentioned.
A Leagues Cup consultant reiterated that Mascherano didn’t break any guidelines by sitting within the stands or speaking with the video analyst group by way of cellular phone.
Mascherano will miss the semifinal at Chase Stadium because of the preliminary purple card, but it surely stays unknown if he’ll sit out any extra matches.
“The disciplinary committee is reviewing and we’ll await their decision earlier than commenting additional,” a Leagues Cup spokesperson informed ESPN.
“I used to be on the cellphone with the video analysts. However I am going to let you know one factor, it is quite common in soccer at this time for video analysts to speak with the bench,” Mascherano mentioned.
“I went, I sat within the higher stands. Now, due to the proximity, it was handy for me to be there. If the group wanted me there, sure. And if my gamers and my group want me, I will be there, and I am going to pay the worth, no downside. However I am going to all the time be out there for no matter my gamers want. And I felt that my gamers at that second wanted me to be there, however not more than that. I did not breach my obligations as a result of we requested the Leagues Cup if I may sit there and the Leagues Cup informed me sure, it is the stands, for instance it is the stands, now somewhat increased, somewhat decrease, that is irrelevant, I selected to be nearer.”
For now, Inter Miami will put together for the upcoming match towards D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Discipline with out Messi.
The coach confirmed the Argentina star is not going to journey to Washington because of the ongoing muscle damage, prioritizing the Leagues Cup sport as an alternative.
Mascherano later added it stays unlikely that Jordi Alba will journey, after the participant suffered a knock to his knee within the quarterfinal towards Tigres.
Inter Miami is fifth within the MLS Jap Convention with 45 factors in 24 video games. The convention chief is FC Cincinnati with 52 factors in 27 video games. D.C. United, sits final within the convention with 20 factors and has gone 11 straight video games with out a win.
