Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba have been suspended for one match after failing to appear in the MLS All-Star Game without prior league approval, Major League Soccer announced on Friday.
The Inter Miami duo, both named to the All-Star roster, did not participate in Wednesday’s exhibition match despite not being injured.
"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," MLS said in a statement.
As a result, Messi—who has scored 18 goals this season and is widely regarded as the league’s biggest star—will miss Inter Miami’s upcoming fixture against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged Messi’s impact on the league, stating: "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," he added.
All-Star events are a staple in North American sports, designed to highlight star players and engage fans, but are rare in global football. Garber noted the policy could be reconsidered: "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."
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas described both Messi and Alba as "consummate professionals" who were "extremely upset" by the suspensions. He explained that the club made the call to rest the players during a grueling stretch of matches, calling the rule "draconian."
"The ones that get penalized are the club, the fans, sponsors, Apple TV, and so on," Mas told reporters during a conference call. "I expressed our disagreement with the league's decision, and I had conversations with the commissioner both this morning and late last night. But notwithstanding that, the decision is what it is."
Mas confirmed there is no appeals process available for the suspension.
Source: Agencies
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