Monterrey has lodged a formal complaint to CONCACAF after an incident involving Lionel Messi, Tata Martino, and members of the Inter Miami team during the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final tie. The Mexican side emerged victorious with a 1-2 win against Inter Miami on Wednesday night in South Florida. However, tensions flared both on and off the pitch after Monterrey's late winner.

The friction escalated in the tunnel after the match, where Rayados boss Tano Ortiz and his assistant, Nico Sánchez, reportedly confronted Messi. Sánchez has gone on record detailing the incident, stating that he encountered Messi just three meters away from him, with a member of the Inter Miami security team. When Sánchez attempted to approach Messi for a photo, the security personnel intervened, and it became apparent that Messi was furious. The dispute continued as Messi confronted the refereeing team, calling them out in a hostile manner. Tata Martino, the head coach of Inter Miami, also engaged in heated words with the officials.

Sánchez claims to have seen people from CONCACAF in the vicinity and expressed his concerns to them, stating, "If we were to react in this way, we'd all be kicked out." Sánchez further narrated that Messi later approached him, raising his fist and using profane language. He believes that any videos capturing the incident have been deleted, but asserts that the incident reflects poorly on the individuals involved.

Following some doubts concerning the veracity of the audio recording of Sánchez's account, he released a video admitting his error in sending the recording to a wider audience. However, he confirmed that the words spoken were indeed his own and emphasized that he will always defend his club.

Monterrey's complaint to CONCACAF seeks to address the incident and ensure a fair and respectful environment for all participants. The football governing body will now investigate the matter and assess any necessary actions to resolve the issue.

As this incident continues to make headlines, the focus now shifts toward the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final tie between Monterrey and Inter Miami. With tensions running high, it remains to be seen how both teams will approach the rematch amidst the fallout from this controversy.

The full details of CONCACAF's investigation into the incident, as well as any potential disciplinary actions, are yet to be determined.