Lionel Messi will not be able to play in the match this Saturday, July 27th, between Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati, due to a sanction imposed by the Major League Soccer (MLS) following his absence in the league’s All-Star Game held last Wednesday.
The decision has caused discontent within the club, especially among its co-owner, Jorge Mas, who strongly criticized the league’s decision.
Why did Messi get angry with the MLS?
Mas expressed in a press conference that both Messi and the rest of the team are deeply disappointed for not being able to participate in a game of high importance for the season.
According to the executive, the suspension imposed by the MLS is based on a regulation that prevents players who are absent from the All-Star Game from playing the next league match without prior approval from the organization.
During the press conference held this Friday, Mas strongly questioned the regulation, considering it excessive. He stated that the affected players, Messi and the Spaniard Jordi Alba, wanted to participate in the All-Star Game and did not understand why an absence in a non-competitive event resulted in a direct sanction.
Absence was due to physical exhaustion
Mas made it clear that it was the technical staff and the management of Inter Miami who made the decision not to send Messi and Alba to the midweek event. He argued that the overload of games and the need to preserve the health of both players were determining factors.
In the last 36 days, Inter has played nine matches, amidst a busy schedule of competitions that include the MLS regular season, the Concacaf Champions League, and the Club World Cup, where the Miami team qualified without sporting merits and only thanks to a controversial invitation from FIFA.
The official communication about the absence of both players was sent to the league on Monday and Tuesday of this week, as confirmed by the executive.
When asked if this sanction could alter Messi’s perception of the MLS or even influence his decision to renew his contract beyond 2025, Mas acknowledged that the situation could have negative effects in the short term.
Messi’s contract with Inter ends in December of this year, but they have been negotiating an extension for one more season for several months.
From the MLS, commissioner Don Garber anticipated that the current policy will be reviewed to assess possible modifications in the future. He expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with players and find formulas that allow for adjusting the rules to the competitive and medical reality of the schedule.