Inter Miami's MLS rivals, Sporting KC, have demanded a review of the incident that saw referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava ask for Lionel Messi's jersey.
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- Freezing temperatures braved in Kansas
- Argentine netted only goal of the game
- Match official requested No.10 jersey
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Following a 24-hour delay, and with temperatures dropping well below freezing, Kansas City played host to Messi and the Herons in the first leg of an intriguing CONCACAF Champions Cup contest. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner netted the only goal of that fixture.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
According to , Mexican official Ortiz Nava approached Messi after the game and requested one of his iconic No.10 shirts. The Argentine is said to have delivered on a post-match promise, with said exchange taking place behind the scenes, rather than on the field.
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WHAT SPORTING KC SAID
Questions are being asked of whether a supposedly neutral official should be displaying any form of favouritism, with the asking Sporting KC for their take. They replied with: "We informed CONCACAF and Major League Soccer about the incident after the match against Inter Miami CF on Wednesday. We await further review of the matter and the action CONCACAF will take."
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DID YOU KNOW?
While Messi happily passed a jersey on to Ortiz Nava, it is claimed that Sporting KC’s captain on the day, Erik Thommy, landed the all-time great’s match-worn shirt – with that trade taking place on the pitch despite everyone in attendance wrapping up against conditions that Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano called "not human".
