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Inter Miami coach defends actions after red card, Lionel Messi injury update
Safid Deen, USA TODAYAugust 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba did not practice on Friday, Aug. 22, and will not travel or play with Inter Miami in their Saturday, Aug. 23 MLS match at D.C. United.
Messi continues to deal with a right hamstring injury he reaggravated in a 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 16, while Alba suffered a knock in the inside of his right knee against during the club's 2-1 win against Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Aug. 20.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano is hopeful Messi and Alba can return for the Leagues Cup semifinal on Aug. 27 at Chase Stadium against Orlando City, which has outscored Inter Miami 7-1 in two MLS matches already this season.
However, the injuries and the next opponents were far from the topic of discussion in Mascherano's first media availability Friday after the Tigres match, where he was shown a red card, ejected and coached while using his iPhone from the stands inside Section 101 of Chase Stadium.
Mascherano was disciplined for arguing with a referee about the first half being played beyond the announced stoppage time, during which Alba was injured and stayed on the field to avoid a substitution before halftime.
A spirited Mascherano said he didn't "insult" the referee, "but yes, I argued with him, perhaps quite vehemently." The coach also defended his actions, which he reiterated were within Leagues Cup rules.
Crazy news: Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano is watching from the stands. He was shown a red card for arguing with a referee at end of first half. He's allowed to be in stands, but not allowed to give instructions, per spokesperson. pic.twitter.com/cOwETtUpfw
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) August 21, 2025
A Leagues Cup spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports after the match that cellphone communications are not prohibited, and Mascherano was seated in a space designated in accordance with tournament regulations.
"Whether it's right or wrong, I adapted to the rules. The other thing is: I'm going to do everything I can to help my players. If someone thinks it's wrong, that's fine with me," Mascherano said on Friday.
Mascherano will be suspended for the Leagues Cup semifinal due to his red card incurred in the quarterfinal.
It doesn't seem like Mascherano will be too far away from his club if he assumes the same seat he took after being ejected, located above Inter Miami's bench.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano — who is sitting in the stands after a red card — talking on the phone to his assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez Pagano. pic.twitter.com/uCrgXOSgOn
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 21, 2025
"I abided by the rules, and I didn't break any rules. I couldn't be on the bench, so I wasn't on the bench. … I could have been next to the bench, in the suite next to the owners, I could have sat there. I'm not to blame for how the stadium is set up. I left and sat in the stands upstairs. Now, because of the proximity, it was convenient for me to be there," Mascherano said.
"If the team needed me there, yes. And if my players and my team need me, I'll be there. And I'll pay the consequences I have to pay, no problem. But I will always be available for whatever my players need. And I felt that my players needed me to be there at that moment.
"Beyond that, I didn't break any rules because we asked the League Cup if I could sit there and the League said, 'Yes, yes, it's the stands, it's the grandstand.' Now, a little higher up, a little lower down, that's irrelevant."
The Apple TV broadcast showed Mascherano demonstratively on his phone in the stands, while also showing Inter Miami assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez Pagano holding his phone on the field as assistant Leandro Stillitano led the club on the sidelines.
Mascherano insisted Friday he was speaking with a video analyst sitting in the upper deck of the stadium.
Luis Suarez scored two penalty kicks in the 2-1 win over Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals. Suarez scored in three of the last four Inter Miami matches across all competitions.
"Listen to me: Coaches aren't that important. Don't think we won because I was up there. No, the players are the ones who play, and soccer belongs to the players. We coaches are there to try to help," Mascherano said.
Inter Miami is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 45 points, behind FC Cincinnati (52), Philadelphia Union (51), Nashville SC (47) and Orlando (47). D.C. United is last place in the East (20 points), and would be eliminated from playoff contention with a draw or loss against Inter Miami.
How to watch D.C. United vs. Inter Miami match
The D.C. United-Inter Miami match on Aug. 23 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Audi Field in Washington D.C. The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Messi upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina -
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 27: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 8:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup semifinal)
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final OR third-place match
Sept. 4: Argentina vs. Venezuela (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 9: Ecuador vs. Argentina (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC United vs. Inter Miami: Will Messi play? Latest injury update
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