News Summary
Major League Soccer has suspended Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one match due to their absence from the MLS All-Star Game, affecting Inter Miami’s lineup against FC Cincinnati. The decision enforces league policies regarding player participation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining game integrity. Both players missed the event citing fatigue and injury, leading to discussions about adapting attendance policies in the future. MLS Commissioner Don Garber noted the difficulty of the decision but affirmed the need for consistent adherence to league rules.
AUSTIN, Texas – Major League Soccer has announced the suspension of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba from Inter Miami for one match due to their absence from the MLS All-Star Game. This event, held on Wednesday night, marked another chapter in league policies concerning player participation.
The decision means that both players will miss Inter Miami’s upcoming match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26. This suspension is a direct result of missing the All-Star Game without prior medical approval, something the league enforces as part of its rules.
The league confirmed their ineligibility in an official statement, affirming the necessity of adhering to policies designed to uphold the integrity of the event. Fans and media voted both Messi and Alba into the All-Star Game; however, they chose not to attend the match.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged Messi’s significant contributions to the league but noted that enforcing such policies is important for maintaining rules. He described the decision to suspend both players as “very difficult,” indicating a balance between player welfare and league standards. In light of this incident, Garber mentioned plans for a review of the current policy regarding All-Star Game participation to potentially accommodate player needs better in the future.
Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano emphasized the impact of a congested match schedule on player readiness and fitness. He reported that Messi was deemed fatigued from extensive play, while Alba was managing a minor injury, making attendance at the All-Star Game unfeasible. Miami has faced a demanding schedule, playing four of their last five matches away and competing in multiple tournaments simultaneously.
In preparation for the match against FC Cincinnati, the coaching staff had already planned without the expectation that Messi and Alba would participate. Cincinnati’s coach, Pat Noonan, confirmed that his team did not anticipate facing the two stars, allowing for adjustments in strategy ahead of the game.
This recent suspension echoes a similar incident from 2018 when Zlatan Ibrahimović faced suspension for missing the All-Star Game, emphasizing that league rules apply uniformly to all players, regardless of their status.
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami is expected to run until the end of the 2025 season, and talks about a potential extension continue as both the player and club seek to maximize their partnership. Recently, MLS launched a “Player Spotlight” event on TikTok featuring Messi, which garnered impressive viewership numbers during the last season, illustrating the player’s ongoing influence on the league.
The MLS All-Star Game is a celebration of the league’s talent and showcases some of the best players throughout the season. However, the necessity of enforcing attendance policies highlights the league’s commitment to its operational framework and overall integrity. As Messi and Alba prepare for their return after serving their suspension, fans will be eager to see how the team responds on the field against FC Cincinnati, even without their star players.
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Additional Resources
- The New York Times
- Wikipedia: Lionel Messi
- NBC News
- Google Search: Lionel Messi suspension
- USA Today
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lionel Messi
- ESPN
- Google News: Messi Alba MLS All-Star Game
- CNN
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