Lionel Messi Avoids Punishment After Heated Post-Game Incident vs. LAFC

ESPN spoke with the Professional Referee Organization director of communications, Chris Rivett, who says that Messi never entered the referee's locker room.

Lionel Messi Set to Avoid MLS Punishment

The MLS made an official investigation of the situation after the video of Lionel Messi being held back by Luis Suarez went viral online.

Chris Rivett, Professional Referee Organization director of communications, told ESPN that Messi did not enter the referee's locker room after the LAFC vs Inter Miami match.

Rivett said, "After speaking with match officials, we can confirm he did not enter the premises."

At the moment, there is no word of any punishment from the MLS Disciplinary Committee, as they tend to announce decisions on player bans before the next match week, which is next weekend.

Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald reports that the door Messi went through is not the referee's locker room and was not a restricted area. The referee locker room was 'up a set of stairs and had its own dedicated set of doors and signage restricting entry'.

Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami head coach, denied seeing Messi upset with the referee post-match by saying, "No, no, no, I didn't see anything. The truth is that the match finished, and then I went into the locker room."