Phil Neville of Inter Miami wants MLS investigation of referees: « We were cheated »

Inter Miami coach Phil Neville has called for a « massive investigation » of Major League Soccer referees following his side’s 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

Miami suffered their fifth straight loss, but Neville was furious after Gonzalo Higuain’s tying goal was ruled out by VAR for offside in the second half.

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Speaking at his post-game press conference, Neville said officials played a role in his team’s losing streak.

“I’m just going to refuel. We got screwed in Portland and we got screwed again tonight, ”he said. “I don’t want to sound like a record broken, but something is fundamentally wrong with the way the referees treat Inter Miami.

“We play in one of the best leagues in the world and I’m having a great experience, but ultimately I have a dressing room that asks real, real questions about the integrity of this league in terms of the decisions we make. keep getting.

“There has to be a massive investigation into the decisions against Inter Miami. We want it to be the best league in the world, but we have decisions like that. « 

The result leaves Miami eight points off the last place in the playoffs and continues its poor 14-losing MLS record this season.

“Our integrity has been called into question this year,” added Neville. “They threw stones at us and we had to accept a lot of absolute things from a lot of people and we had to accept it.

“I cannot accept this, I have to defend my club against something unfair and wrong. I have the impression that we are mistaken.

« These players are too emotional to talk to you guys [the press] because they feel so much what happened. It’s just not the last four games, it was also early in the season.

“I’m sick of getting emails on Mondays saying, ‘Sorry, the calls could have gone the other way.’ « 

Neville also added that he had no problem with field official Toni Pesso: “I thought the referee played really well. An outstanding official woman was incredibly disappointed with the VAR system. «