Inter Miami secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Houston Dynamo on Matchday 2 of the 2025 MLS season, but the game wasn’t without controversy. The biggest talking point came when Ian Fray was shown a shocking red card, prompting head coach Javier Mascherano to publicly question the referee—a move that now puts him at risk of suspension.
Without their main star, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami traveled to Houston and delivered an impressive performance. However, the match ended on a sour note when, as the players headed to the locker room, Houston defender Ian Bartlow grabbed Fray by the jersey. In an attempt to free himself, Fray reacted, leading to his dismissal. Speaking after the game, Mascherano was quick to defend his player.
“I saw the video—Ian did nothing, absolutely nothing. He was trying to go to the locker room, and his opponent grabbed him by the jersey. He tried to get free once, twice, three times, and the referee was right there, watching it happen. That’s what starts to worry me because Ian did nothing, and when my players do nothing, I will stand up for them no matter what it takes,” he said in the post-match press conference.
The Argentine coach didn’t stop there, pointing to what he believes is a pattern of unfair officiating against his team: “The other day, there were questionable calls. Today, again—when we were winning 4-1 and the game was almost over, there were two or three fouls that weren’t even yellow cards, yet we were flooded with bookings. I’m not going to stay silent about this anymore.”
Mascherano’s frustration stems not only from Fray’s red card but also from previous incidents. He had already questioned Tomas Aviles’ red card last week, which forced Fray into the starting lineup against Houston. On Sunday, he referenced yellow cards handed to Leo Afonso, Benjamin Cremaschi, and Jordi Alba during stoppage time in a match that was already decided.
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What Javier Mascherano explained about Lionel Messi’s absence in Inter Miami’s victory
Could Mascherano face suspension?
Mascherano’s outspoken criticism of officiating could lead to disciplinary action from Major League Soccer. The league has a strict stance on comments regarding refereeing decisions, and the Argentine coach now finds himself at the center of the controversy.
According to the 2025 MLS competition guidelines for coaches, team officials, and club staff members, “Any coach, technical staff or team official acting in an unprofessional manner, in the opinion of the League, shall be subject to a fine and/or suspension as determined by the League Office.”
Another point that speaks about the topic writes: “Major fines and/or suspensions, at the sole and absolute discretion of the League Office, shall be levied against players, coaches, or other team officials for conduct detrimental to MLS (whether or not they were cautioned by the referee for such match conduct).”
Mascherano directly addressed refereeing decisions in both of Inter Miami’s MLS games so far, openly criticizing what he called “questionable calls.” Whether or not the club appeals Fray’s red card, Mascherano’s remarks violate league policy, making a fine or suspension a realistic outcome.
