© Vincent Carchietta
Major League Soccer handed down a one-game suspension to Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi on Friday after the Argentine skipped the league’s All-Star Game. League rules state that any healthy player who opts out of the game would be subject to suspension.
But it initially appeared that the league and commissioner Don Garber would make an exception for Messi. Teammate and fellow former FC Barcelona star Jordi Alba was also handed a one-game suspension for the same reason.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber Changes Mind On Lionel Messi Suspension
When first asked about Messi’s absence from the All-Star Game, Garber expressed frustration with the fact that the league not notified sooner.
“Yeah, we should have known earlier. We should have addressed it earlier. No doubt about that,” he said during a press conference prior to the game.
But he quickly made an excuse for the league’s, if not the world’s, biggest star.
“Miami has had a schedule that is unlike any other team. Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t. We had Leo playing 90 minutes in almost all the games that he’s played. We have to manage through that as a league. [At] the same time, we do have rules, and we have to manage through that as well,” Garber said.
Lionel Messi’s Suspension Comes At A Bad Time For Inter Miami
On Friday afternoon, Major League Soccer released the following statement:
“Inter Miami CF’s Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi will be unavailable for the club’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, due to their absence at this week’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game. 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.”
So, why is that a big deal?
Well, after a 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls last weekend, Inter Miami sits in fifth in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind leaders FC Cincinnati. But Miami is set to play Cincinnati this weekend, and also had three games in hand over the conference leaders.
Both teams are in the hunt for the Supporters’ Shield, which is given to the team with the best points total at the end of the regular season. Should Miami lose to Cincinnati, it would be a big blow in their quest to claim that trophy.
Ultimately, Messi’s health means more to the team’s success than anything else. But if Miami falls too far behind the top of the table, even Lionel Messi may not be able to save it.