Monterrey coach calls Lionel Messi  a 'possessed dwarf' with 'the face of the devil' in leaked audio before offering questionable apology while omitting Inter Miami star's name

Lionel Messi was referred to as a 'possessed dwarf' with 'the face of the devil' by a Monterrey assistant coach in leaked audio following a tunnel confrontation at last week's CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sánchez has since issued an apology for his comments, although he neglected to mention Messi's name, instead directing his regret at Inter Miami coach Tata Martino, whom he referred to as a 'poor dummy' in the leaked audio.

The confrontation took place before Monterrey's 2-1 win over Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.

Although Messi was ruled out prior to the game due to a hamstring injury, he, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez and Martino were reportedly in a mixed zone confrontation with Monterrey players and coach outside the visitors' locker room. 

As reported by USA Today, the argument stemmed from Inter Miami players approaching officials in the tunnel after a game in which their side received six yellow cards and a red card compared to just three bookings for Monterrey.

Since the confrontation in the tunnel, audio of Sánchez discussing the altercation in the locker room has been leaked to Fox Sports MX.

'The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil,' Sánchez said. 'He put his fist next to my face and says: 'Who do you think you are?' But because I didn't look at him, I was looking away, I never answered back, it made things worse.

'And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me telling me: 'Fool, you going to cry? Fool you going to cry?' What a dummy! All those videos, they probably erased them all because it leaves them looking bad. 

'What they did was really serious. They want to dirty the pitch.'

Since the release of the audio, Sánchez has apologized on social media, although he neglected to mention Messi,

'Since I do not know the Inter coach, Gerardo [Tata] Martino, and I referred to him in a disrespectful manner, and I apologize,' Sánchez said. 'I am as Argentine as all of them and I will always defend my club. I'm here to show my face and take charge.'

Things were already testy between the two clubs prior to last week's match. At one point, Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz accused officials of favoring Messi's team. 

'Everything that surrounds Messi can lead to sporting and non-sporting decisions,' Ortiz said. 'I am concerned about the environment, football is business, business does not go the way of Monterrey.' 

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday night in the second leg of the quarterfinal at Guadalupe's Estadio BBVA.

Messi appears likely to play Wednesday after appearing in each of Inter Miami's last match – a 2-2 draw with Colorado in which he scored a goal and had five shots in total.