Messi and Miami pulled the same late from halftime bullshit against us in March. When the broadcast resumes from halftime our players are on the field standing in position for kickoff. The center ref is standing next to a ball sitting on the KO spot in the center of the midfield circle. There's no way to tell how long they were waiting like that, but they would not line up like that after just 12 minutes. Why did the ref even tell our guys to get ready for KO when the other team was not on the field. Miami is not even through the tunnel and does not come out for a while. Our guys should have been relaxing or loosening up but the ref is, if anything, helping Miami's mind games. They've been doing it in other MLS games, though I haven't checked every one. It's a "fuck you I'm Messi" power move and it's so bullshit that everyone just acts spineless in the face of repeated violations of simple norms of decency.
I realize that in the moment each opposing team is better off not getting worked up, but that just makes action by refs, leagues and tournament organizations more necessary. Also pathetic that no writers mention it. I can't find any stories that bring it up, not even in passing, despite Messi being the 1 guy in MLS who gets tons of press besides the in-house material. It's not the worst thing in the world but it's worth addressing and so easy to fix. Give them a yellow once and it stops.
Coming out late 1 or 2 times a season for 45 seconds is being human. Repeatedly being multiple minutes late and forcing the other team to stand on the pitch waiting for you is asshole behavior.
Fuck Messi and his fanboys. Buy my ticket for the Miami game.
