Marciniak weighs in on Lewandowski row in Chicago Fire draw

Szymon Marciniak has said the confrontation involving Robert Lewandowski late in Chicago Fire's 1-1 MLS draw with Inter Miami "should not have happened", after tensions flared in a match that had been billed around the presence of Lewandowski and Lionel Messi.

High-profile occasion in Chicago

The meeting at Soldier Field drew a record crowd of just over 63,000, underlining the pull of some of the biggest names now playing in MLS. Much of the pre-match attention centred on Lewandowski and Messi, and both left their mark on the contest.

Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a volley, while Messi finished the evening with an assist for Casemiro's goal. The game ultimately ended level, but the football was not the only talking point by full-time.

Late flashpoint involving Lewandowski

Near the end of the match, Lewandowski became involved in an altercation with Inter Miami defender Ian Fray. The initial incident saw Fray go to ground before getting back up and pushing the Poland captain, who also fell in the aftermath.

As Lewandowski got up and moved towards Fray to address the situation, Rodrigo De Paul quickly stepped in. A verbal exchange followed, with the Argentine midfielder reportedly directing a pointed remark at the Chicago Fire forward, referencing his own international honours.

Lewandowski did not respond to the provocation. According to the source material, the striker chose not to engage and later reacted to the episode with a smile.

Marciniak calls for more respect

Speaking to Kanał Sportowy, Marciniak offered a clear verdict on the incident. The Polish referee said De Paul is not an easy player to deal with and stressed that Lewandowski's standing in the game should have commanded greater respect.

Marciniak described Lewandowski as a player who has scored goals in every league he has played in and referred to him as a major figure in football. More broadly, he argued that elite players usually understand the unwritten code of mutual respect, even when emotions briefly spill over during matches.

In his view, that standard was missing in Chicago. Marciniak said there should have been more composure and more respect shown toward such high-profile names.

What comes next for Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire now turn their attention to their next MLS fixture against New England Revolution. Chicago sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, with New England one place above them in third.

After a match that combined star power, a record attendance and a controversial late exchange, the focus will now shift back to results on the pitch. But Marciniak's comments have ensured the closing moments against Inter Miami will remain part of the conversation.