JAVIER MASCHERANO reverted to managing Inter Miami from his PHONE in the stands after being sent off against Tigres.
The former Liverpool midfielder was incensed after stoppage time in the first half of the Leagues Cup quarter-finals went over five minutes long.
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Anfield great Luis Suarez had opened the scoring in Fort Lauderdale from the penalty spot after 23 minutes but only after a lengthy VAR check.
Referee Mario Escobar added the time on before the break – leaving Miami boss Mascherano fuming.
As a result, he was given his marching orders and forced to watch the second half from the stands.
But cameras revealed the ex-Barcelona man talking tactics to his assistant Lucas Rodriguez Pagano on his mobile phone.
The 41-year-old – who retired in 2020 before moving into management with Argentina’s youth sides two years later – also barked orders from his seat.
Mascherano was breaking the rules by doing so – with his ejection meant to prohibit any contact with his team.
Angel Correa levelled the scoring in the cup on the 67th minute.
But once again Suarez – who joined former Barca team-mates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to Miami last year – came to the rescue.
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The Uruguayan forward – who spent three seasons at Liverpool before joining Barca in 2014 – converted from the spot again.
Messi – out of the cup tie due to injury – celebrated from his pitchside box with his son and Suarez’s boy Benjamin.
Miami progress to the last four of the tournament and sit fifth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.
Mascherano’s other assistant Javier Morales – holding the post-match press conference – was probed on the red card.
Morales said: “The referee added four minutes and we ended up playing six minutes. So we argued about the time.
“We’re human, we start to talk and the referee said Javier got a red card and that’s it. We didn’t have much information.
“We complained about the time, he said four minutes and next they’re playing six.”
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