Messi Locker Room Access: MLS Investigation Finds No Policy Violation

Major League Soccer has concluded its investigation into allegations that Lionel Messi gained unauthorized access to the officials’ locker room following Inter Miami’s match against LAFC on February 22, 2026, finding no violation of league policy. The incident stemmed from a circulating video appearing to demonstrate Messi briefly entering a restricted area.

Investigation Findings

MLS initiated the investigation after the video surfaced, prompting concerns about potential breaches of protocol. However, the league determined that the door Messi entered did not lead to the referees’ locker room, and the area itself was not restricted. Chris Rivett, the Professional Referee Organization’s director of communications, confirmed to ESPN that Messi did not enter the officials’ locker room. ESPN

Match Context: LAFC Defeats Inter Miami 3-0

The investigation occurred following LAFC’s 3-0 victory over Inter Miami in the 2026 MLS season opener. Goals from David Martinez, Denis Bouanga, and Nathan Ordaz secured the win for LAFC in front of a crowd of 75,673 at the LA Coliseum. The Athletic

Messi played the full 90 minutes of the match but was largely quiet as LAFC dominated play. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano stated he did not observe Messi being upset with the officiating during the game. World Soccer Talk

Looking Ahead

Inter Miami will next face Orlando City on March 1 at Inter&Co Stadium. LAFC will participate in the second leg of the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday, aiming to maintain their 6-1 advantage from the previous match against Real España. World Soccer Talk

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.