[ad_1]
Lionel Messi has been a welcomed addition to Major League Soccer, with one exception: Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja.
Inter Miami celebrated a 3-1 victory over Orlando City on Wednesday in a Leagues Cup match in which Messi scored twice, making it his second consecutive multi-goal performance since joining the team and his third-straight scoring.
![Messi celebrates a win](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/640/320/Lionel_messi.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal against Orlando City in the first half of a Leagues Cup Round of 32 match at DRV PNK Stadium on August 2, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Pareja, however, was less than impressed with the officiating and suggested that the international star received preferential treatment from referees, calling the whole thing a “circus.”
“There was a double yellow card for Messi. I don’t care that he was Messi,” he said after the game via AFP. “That affects the game. The match should be fair and that was not the case on the field.”
![Lionel Messi gets a yellow card](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/640/320/lionel_messi_2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami receives a yellow card after a tackle on Wilder Cartagena of Orlando City at DRV PNK Stadium on August 2, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Messi was given a yellow card in the 21st minute of the game after a hard foul, but after a similar foul later in the game, Pareja felt Messi should’ve been given another yellow card, which would have resulted in a red card and his exit from the game.
He also took issue with a penalty kick that was awarded to Miami when the game was tied 1-1 and with the officials for not reviewing the play.
![Oscar Pareja stands on the sideline](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/640/320/GettyImages-1499358139.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja is shown during a game with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on June 17, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“We take our responsibility, OK, we lost, we are frustrated, but I have to say [this], you cannot hide this kind of situation,” he continued.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Messi scored seven minutes into the match and again at the 72-minute mark. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has now recorded five goals in three games since his highly anticipated MLS debut on July 21.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link