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Miami
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi was called a "possessed dwarf" with the "face of the devil" by Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sanchez when the two teams squared up in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final last week.
Although Messi did not take part in the first leg 1-2 defeat at the Chase Stadium, he alongside Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami coach Tata Martino, clashed with opposition players and coaches in the tunnel after the match.
In the wake of the arguments between the two sides, an audio has been leaked through FOX Sports MX where Sanchez can be heard saying some nasty language concerning Messi.
“The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil. He put his fist next to my face and says: ‘Who do you think you are?’ But because I didn’t look at him, I was looking away, I never answered back, it made things worse," said Sanchez.
"And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me telling me: ‘Fool, you going to cry? Fool you going to cry?’ What a dummy! All those videos, they probably erased them all because it leaves them looking bad. What they did was really serious. They want to dirty the pitch," he added.
As the controversy snowballed with Messi fans targetting Sanchez and the Mexican team online, the assistant coach released a video and apologised to Martino. However, Sanchez did not mention Messi by name in his apology video.
“Since I do not know the Inter coach, Gerardo Martino, and I referred to him in a disrespectful manner, and I apologise,” Sánchez said. “I am as Argentine as all of them and I will always defend my club. I’m here to show my face and take charge.”
What happened?
Notably, the bust-up happened as Inter Miami players were left fuming after a number of decisions went against them in the match. Miami were shown six yellow cards and a red card while Monterrey picked up only three bookings.
In the lead-up to the match, Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz said he was concerned about Miami receiving preferential treatment from the officials due to Messi's celebrity status.
“Everything that surrounds Messi can lead to sporting and non-sporting decisions,” Ortiz said. “I am concerned about the environment, football is business, business does not go the way of Monterrey.”
The second leg between the two sides takes place on Wednesday (Apr 10) with Miami travelling to Mexico to overturn the tie. With Messi available, Miami would be hopeful of snatching the tie, especially after the controversy that has ensued.
(With inputs from agencies)