The rival of Lionel Messi responds to allegations that the Inter Miami icon rejected a shirt swap, saying, “He’s clearly mad.”

Lionel Messi was “clearly mad” during LA Galaxy’s 1-1 tie with Inter Miami, according to defender Eriq Zavaleta. However, he refuted reports that the legendary player from Argentina wouldn’t switch shirts with him.

Messi’s late goal ensured his team won a point despite playing second best for the majority of the match. Tensions were high as the match proved to be disappointing, resulting in a first-half altercation between Messi and Luis Suarez and Edwin Cerrillo, as well as the dismissal of LA Galaxy player Mark Delgado.

Following the game, footage on social media appeared to show Messi appearing animated on the field, suggesting that tensions were still high. After the game, Zavaleta came over to him to give him a high five. Their brief conversation went viral on social media, with some people taking it as evidence that the Argentinean was rejecting a plea to switch shirts.

On social media, Zavaleta, however, laughed at the video and clarified that Messi wasn’t angry with the referees when he approached him after the game, answering questions about whether or not he had requested for his shirt. “Lol, I never spoke to him,” Zavaleta wrote. Agendas, but he’s obviously upset with the referees.”

Because the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) and the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) were on strike, replacement referees handled several of the game’s flashpoints. Delgado received a second yellow card from Gabriele Ciampi in the closing moments for a tackle on Sergio Busquets.

Busquets, though, acknowledged that the tackle was not even a foul, much less a booking. Major League Soccer later filed an appeal, and the ruling was reversed.

“Yes, communication did occur. It was really not that strong. However, Busquets stated that the referee made the call regarding the card. “His back was turned, so I had essentially missed the fact that he had drawn a card. Maybe he is correct in saying that much more is required for an expulsion, since maybe it wasn’t even a card.”

“I’m sure it did because the goal was after the expulsion and playing with one less can always influence it, but it was a referee’s decision about which we can’t do much more,” Busquets responded when asked whether he thought it helped them find a late equalizer.

Edwin Cerrillo, the midfield player who confronted Luis Suarez in the first half, disclosed that Messi attempted to provoke him and he did not remain silent.

“First, I was surprised that [Messi] was talking to me, so I didn’t understand the first thing he said to me, nor did it register with me,” Cerrillo stated in an interview with TyC Sports. He was being serious, and I realized that since the game was still early, I needed to maintain my composure.

I was not going to be silent, like I would with anyone. And when Suárez and [Sergio] Busquets arrived to protect [Messi], I had to maintain my composure. It’s wonderful, but that’s just how football works.

“What was said will remain with me, it is something that I will always have in my mind and I will keep that,” Cerrillo replied when asked what Messi had said to him.