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3rd August 2023
03:41pm BST
Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja has claimed that Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are receiving special treatment from referees.
Messi scored twice as Inter Miami continued their hot streak of form since the Argentine's arrival as they reached the last 16 of the Leagues Cup.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was given a yellow card for a push on Orlando's Cesar Araujo before the two exchanged verbals as they walked off the pitch at half time.
Later in the game Messi shoved Araujo again however went unpunished the second time as Orlando tried to wind up and frustrate the 36-year-old all game.
"There are a couple of plays that are double yellows, with Leo," Pareja said.
"I don't care if it's him but it has to be judged just the same as everybody else.
"Things have to be fair and what happened on the pitch was not like that.
"They (Inter Miami) have improved their quality, it was a competitive game, but we feel that there were very unfair circumstances of the game that should not have happened."
Josef Martinez scored either side of Messi's goals with a penalty while Messi himself now has five goals in three games since joining from Paris-Saint Germain.
Their next fixture in the Leagues Cup is against FC Dallas on Sunday night.
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