The atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium became controversial and intense, and not just because of the play on the field. In a tense end to the match, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano was sent off in stoppage time during the 0-0 draw against Charlotte FC.
After the expulsion, Mascherano was insulted by the local fans and responded with an ironic gesture that went viral on social networks and could lead to some kind of sanction.
Inter Miami's match got out of hand
The spark was ignited when the referee showed the red card to the Argentine strategist for having repeatedly left his technical area. The decision unleashed the fury of "El Jefecito", who, visibly upset, exchanged high-caliber words with a section of the local crowd as he made his way to the dressing room escorted by security.
According to witnesses in the stadium, the hostility of the Charlotte fans ended up exhausting the patience of a Mascherano who was already at the limit by the refereeing decisions.
As he left the field, the Argentine coach sarcastically applauded the home fans and encouraged them to continue insulting him, making a provocative gesture that went around the world.
Mascherano's assistant defends him after sending off
After the incident, it was his assistant Javi Morales who faced the press. Morales tried to soften the situation by calling the referee's performance disproportionate:
"There was a misunderstanding. Javier was giving instructions to his players and he went out of his area a little bit because of the energy of the game. In my opinion, the referee was too sensitive“, Morales told the media.
Despite the altercation, Inter Miami's coaching staff praised the value of the point earned. With an eye on the Concacaf Champions League, the team decided to rest the likes of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, opting for a lineup full of youth players.
