Major League Soccer (MLS) has suspended Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for missing All-Star Game events earlier this week.
Despite being selected for the MLS All-Star Game, both players failed to attend the Skills Challenge on Tuesday and the marquee match against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday.
According to MLS regulations, players who skip All-Star duties without official exemption face automatic suspension. As a result, Messi and Alba have been handed a one-match ban and will be unavailable for Inter Miami’s clash against FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.
Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, has voiced frustration over the ruling, stating that Messi is “extremely upset” by the decision.
He further expressed his disagreement with the league’s policy, saying,
“I have made my thoughts known to the commissioner very plainly.”
