Messi and Alba suspended for skipping MLS All-Star Game, Inter Miami say star is ‘very upset'
MLS said in a statement Messi and Alba would be unavailable for today's clash against FC Cincinnati 'due to their absence' at this week's All-Star showpiece.
'Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match,' the league said in a brief statement.
Messi and Alba had both been selected to play for a combined MLS side in Wednesday's game against a team drawn from Mexico's Liga-MX as part of the league's All-Star break.
However, both players withdrew from the showpiece early Wednesday for reasons that were not revealed.
The 11th-hour snub left Messi and Alba both facing sanction. Under MLS rules, players selected for the All-Star game must participate unless they have a valid reason — such as an injury — not to do so.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said yesterday the league had been left with no choice but to suspend players from duty this weekend, describing the ruling as a 'very difficult decision'.
'I know Lionel Messi loves this league,' Garber said. 'I don't think there's a player — or anyone — who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.
'Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.'
Garber, however, said MLS would review its existing policy in future.
'We're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward,' he said. 'I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.'
Messi 'very upset'
Inter Miami's billionaire co-owner Jorge Mas blasted the decision to suspend Messi and Alba in a conference call with reporters yesterday, describing Messi as 'very upset' by the league's ruling.
'Leo Messi is very upset. I hope it doesn't have a long-term impact,' said Mas, who is currently in talks with Messi about a possible extension to his current contract, which runs out at the end of this year.
'Will it have an impact on (Messi's) perception of the league and it's rules? Without a doubt,' Mas added. 'Lionel is different from everyone else. He wants to participate in competitive matches.'
Speaking on Wednesday, Garber said the league should have known earlier about the no-show, but expressed some sympathy for the gruelling schedule faced by Messi in recent weeks.
The 38-year-old Argentinian superstar has played nine games in 35 days and played 90 minutes in each game, including four games in the FIFA Club World Cup.
'Miami has had a schedule that is unlike any other team,' Garber said. 'Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn't. So we have to manage through that as a league.'
Messi and Alba's participation in the game had been under a cloud after Miami coach Javier Mascherano indicated last weekend he would have preferred the duo to be excused from All-Star duties.
'The players are called up. I'd prefer they rest, but it's not my decision,' Mascherano said. — AFP
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