“Soap Opera”- Lionel Messi Lawsuit Dismissed By Tata Martino While Monterrey Asst. Coach Apologizes For NSFW Comments

Inter Miami’s clash against Liga MX’s Monterrey in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final has transpired into uncalled-for incidents. After the game, a sidelined Lionel Messi verbally confronted Monterrey’s coach Fernando Ortiz over the latter’s earlier comments that implied the refereeing would be in Inter Miami’s favor. Messi’s confrontation has upset the Monterrey entourage and they have reportedly filed a complaint against Miami to the CONCACAF. Meanwhile, in a surprising turn, Miami boss Tata Martino downplayed the ongoing fiasco, hinting he cares two hoots about this back-and-forth.

Elsewhere, the Miami-Monterrey drama got spiced up after Fox Sports MX leaked Monterrey’s locker room conversations, dissing Leo Messi and Martino. Subsequently, the Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sanchez couldn’t help but apologize for his NSFW remarks.

Tata Martino doesn’t care about the ongoing fiasco between Inter Miami and Monterrey

During the latest presser, Tata Martino was asked if he was surprised to see Monterrey’s coaching staff comment heavily on their tensions with Leo Messi and Co. The Miami boss snubbed that question, saying he has no comments. Thereafter, the media asked Martino what he meant by saying Miami would have a ‘rematch’ with Monterrey. He said he used the word rematch solely about the upcoming second leg against Monterrey. Then he quashed Monterrey’s lawsuit and surrounding tensions with Miami. “It doesn’t even interest me to create any…We’re going to play a game and if we win we continue and if we lose we come back home and we’ll focus on the league. Everything else. Everything that has to do with this soap opera is not of interest to us,” said Tata Martino.

Monterrey’s complaints against Inter Miami have primarily stemmed from Lionel Messi’s confrontation with Fernando Ortiz. Meanwhile, the Mexican club has also reportedly asked the CONCACAF to take note of the actions of Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba. Suarez and Alba notably lamented the referee’s decision to red-card David Ruiz. It was a major upset for Monterrey amid a legal battle against the Herons to have their locker-room conversations leaked. It was perhaps to avoid trouble that the Mexican side’s coaching staff has apologized.

Nico Sanchez, who called Lionel Messi a ‘possessed dwarf’, issues apology

“The dwarf was possessed, he[Messi] had the face of the devil,” said Nico Sanchez, as per the leaked locker room conversation through FOX Sports MX. He added that Lionel Messi put his fist next to his face while confronting him. Thereafter, Sanchez dissed Tata Martino. He said, “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!” 

READ MORE: Lionel Messi Lawsuit – Luis Suarez & Jordi Alba Dragged In As Monterrey Coach Gets Clean Chit

However, Sanchez later backtracked from his angry comments. Though he did not mention Messi by name, he issued an apology video addressed to the Inter Miami entourage. He did say Martino’s name. These NSFW comments coupled with Monterrey’s complaint against Miami will make the second leg meeting of the two way more tense and exciting. Only the aftermath of the second leg will tell where this fiasco is heading.

READ MORE: Monterrey Boss Opens Up on Alleged Confrontation With Lionel Messi Over Referee Bias Comments After Inter Miami’s Loss