![\"MLS:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28311423.jpg\")
Feb 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) moves the ball against Los Angeles FC midfielder Mathieu Choini\u00e8re (66) during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nLionel Messi did not violate Major League Soccer policy and will not face any form of punishment regarding a post-match incident involving referees on Saturday evening, according to an MLS spokesperson.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n In a video which was posted by Sintesis Deportes, Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez appears to attempt to prevent Messi from entering a room in the locker room area of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Messi escapes Suarez’s grasp before reappearing eight seconds later, joining his teammates walking to their locker room.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The MLS spokesperson, however, told The Athletic that the door in the video was not to the referees’ locker room, and Messi did not enter a restricted area.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga was investigated and suspended three matches for “misconduct” after entering the referees’ locker room in 2023 following a playoff match.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Messi has never been disciplined for any incident involving a referee, but he was suspended last summer for one match after being a no-show at the MLS All-Star Game. Also last season, he was fined “for violating the hands to the face\/head\/neck of an opponent policy” after a game.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n