Lionel Messi appears unhappy with new MLS rule as he is forced to wait on the sidelines before returning to the pitch.

CNN
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Lionel Messi appeared frustrated on the sidelines when a new Major League Soccer rule prevented him from immediately returning to the field following an injury check.

With Inter Miami trailing Montreal 2-0 on Saturday, Messi was off the field when his team needed someone to take a free kick.

The Argentine had received treatment on the pitch moments earlier in the first half following a tackle by defender George Campbell, which led to a free kick being awarded, and then left the field. The situation brought into play MLS’s “off-field processing rule,” introduced in April.

According to the rules: “If a player suspected of an injury remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds, the referee will stop play and signal the medical team to enter the field to evaluate the player.

“Once safe, the player will be removed from the field and will remain off the field for at least two minutes for further assessment and treatment.”

Unable to return to the field, Messi turned to a sideline television camera, shook his head and said in Spanish: “With these kinds of rules…” The moment was widely shared on the networks social.

The 36-year-old didn’t miss the free-kick, however, as Matías Rojas latched onto it and scored into the top right corner to reduce the deficit to 2-1, sparking a comeback.

Miami ultimately celebrated a 3-2 victory, the team’s fifth straight league victory, extending its unbeaten run to seven games. Luis Suárez and Benjamin Cremaschi were the other scorers on a night where Messi failed to find the net.

After the game, Miami coach Gerardo Martino told reporters that there were rules that “need to be reviewed.”

According to the regulations, the two-minute rule would not have taken effect if Campbell had received a yellow or red card for the foul on Messi.

“Exceptions to the off-field treatment rule include cases of potential head injuries, goalkeeper injuries, serious medical events and fouls resulting in yellow or red cards,” the rule states.

“In Leo’s situation, he was clearly fouled,” Martino said, according to ESPN. “The player deserved a yellow card, which would mean Messi never left the pitch for two minutes.

“If I understand correctly, the team which suffered the fault was punished. With these new rule changes, certain situations must be reviewed. The infraction was clear and amounted to a yellow card, and in the end it was us who lost Leo for two minutes.

CNN has contacted MLS for comment.