Inter Miami owner Jorge Más on Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba suspensions: 'There's a rule in place, but it's a bad rule'
'There's a rule in place, but it's a bad rule," Más told reporters, via Franco Panizo.
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Both Messi, 38, and Alba, 36, were voted into the All-Star Game but did not take part in any events earlier this week in Austin, Texas. According to ESPN's Lizzy Becherano, league officials and Inter Miami representatives held talks about whether both players would be available for Saturday's game.
MLS rules state that players who miss the All-Star Game without approval from the league are subject to discipline. The league announced on Friday that the two Inter Miami stars would be "unavailable" for the game against FC Cincinnati.
The league has enforced this policy before after former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended one game when he missed the 2018 All-Star Game against Serie A side Juventus.
'I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think there's a player — or anyone — who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "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. That said, we're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.'
Más said that it was the club's decision to keep Messi and Alba home and he hopes MLS examines the rule in the future.
'I think the punishment for the rule is draconian," Más said.
Messi, Alba upset with suspension
When told that they would be unavailable for a key Eastern Conference clash against Cincinnati, Messi and Alba were not happy, according to Más.
'Their reaction was as expected. It was not a positive reaction," Más said. "They want to play and compete and win games. They don't understand the decision. They don't understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension.'
Inter Miami has had a busy schedule with nine matches between MLS play and the FIFA Club World Cup since June 14. Their previous three league games — two wins and a defeat — took place within seven days.
Messi has played 90 minutes in each of Inter Miami's last nine matches. Alba exited Saturday's win over New York Red Bulls in the 84th minute with an injury, but had completed 90 minutes in the Herons' previous five games.
Head coach Javier Mascherano said Friday that he hopes the league takes into account needed rest for players in the future.
"What I think is that if they want to do this type of event, it's great to do it, and the truth is that it's great for the league," Mascherano said. "There shouldn't be a date in the schedule. It's crazy. We've been playing four of the last five games away. We've been playing four away. We've been playing practically every three days.
"Stop for the weekend, the All-Star Game is played on the weekend, and we come back because after Wednesday, today, 48 hours after having played, there are teams that are going to play today, and it's not enough rest for the players either. So, the first thing we have to think about is that football belongs to the players. And if football belongs to the players, without players, it doesn't exist."
Más echoed Mascherano's call for the need for player rest noting that there are six MLS matches on Friday's schedule, two days after the All-Star Game.
"That's not right. That's not right to the players," Más said.
Inter Miami are 12-4-5 and sit fifth in the Eastern Conference through 21 games.
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