After missing the team’s All-Star Game earlier this week, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were given a suspension, according to the league.
Messi and Alba were informed in a statement released on Friday that they would miss Saturday’s game against FC Cincinnati because of their absence at this week’s All-Star showpiece.
Any player who does not take part in the All-Star Game without the league’s approval is ineligible to play in their club’s next game, according to league rules, according to a brief statement from the league.
In Wednesday’s game against a team selected from Mexico’s Liga-MX as part of the league’s All-Star break, Messi and Alba were both chosen to play for a combined MLS side.
However, both players withdrawn from the showpiece early on Wednesday for unknown reasons.
Messi and Alba were both subject to sanctions as a result of the 11th-hour snub.
Players chosen for the All-Star game are required to participate under MLS rules unless they have a valid excuse, such as an injury, to do so.
The decision, according to MLS commissioner Don Garber, was described as a “very difficult decision” and stated on Friday that the league had been given no choice but to suspend players from duty this weekend.
Lionel Messi is a fan of this league, Garber said. There isn’t, in my opinion, a player or person who has contributed more to Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully respect his decision, as well as his commitment to Inter Miami.
Unfortunately, we had to impose a long-standing rule governing all-star game participation. It was a very difficult choice.
Garber, however, stated that MLS would look over its current policy in the future.
He declared, “We’re going to take a hard look at the policy going forward.” He added, “I’m going to work with our players to figure out how the rule should change.”
Messi is “very upset,”
In a conference call with reporters later on Friday, Inter Miami’s billionaire co-owner Jorge Mas criticized the team’s decision to suspend Messi and Alba, describing Messi as “very upset” by the decision.
Leo Messi is “very upset,” he says. Mas, who is currently in talks with Messi about a potential extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of this year, said, “I hope it doesn’t have a long-term impact.”
Will it affect Messi’s perception of the league and its rules? Without a doubt. Everyone else is unique, including Lionel. He wants to play competitive sports, Mas added.
Garber addressed the league on Wednesday, saying the organization should have known about the absence but felt sympathy for Messi’s difficult schedule.
The Argentinian superstar, 38, has played nine games in 35 days, including four games in the FIFA Club World Cup, for 90 minutes each.
“Miami’s schedule is unique among all other teams,” they say. The majority of our teams took a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t. So as a league, we must maneuver through that, Garber said.
After Miami coach Javier Mascherano stated last weekend that he would have preferred the duo be excused from All-Star duties, Messi and Alba’s participation in the game had become murky.
The players are summoned to the stands. “I’d prefer they rest,” said Maserano, but it’s not my choice.
Source: Channels TV
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