Jorge Mas Criticizes MLS Suspension of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba
In a recent development, Jorge Mas, the owner of Inter Miami, has strongly condemned Major League Soccer’s (MLS) decision to suspend star players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one match. The suspension means both players will miss Inter Miami’s upcoming game against Cincinnati FC, the top team in the Eastern Conference.
Messi and Alba made headlines for opting out of Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas, despite receiving enough fan votes to participate. The MLS All-Stars went on to defeat Liga MX All-Stars with a score of 3-1.
Mas labeled the league’s action as a "draconian" punishment, stating, "They don’t understand the decision. They don’t grasp why skipping an exhibition game results in a suspension."
The Background on the Suspension
Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, chose to sit out the All-Star Game to rest, while Jordi Alba was managing an existing injury. Mas clarified that the decision to have both players miss the All-Star match was made by the club, emphasizing that they acted in the best interests of Messi and Alba’s health.
According to MLS regulations, players who do not attend the All-Star Game without prior consent from the league face ineligibility for their team’s next match. This policy has sparked controversy, especially since Messi and Alba were actively training with Inter Miami in preparation for the match before the league announced their suspensions.
MLS Commissioner Responds
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged Messi’s invaluable contribution to the league, stating, "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. While I respect his commitment to Inter Miami, we have a long-standing policy regarding All-Star participation that we had to enforce. It was a very difficult decision."
Garber also mentioned that the league is open to reevaluating this policy in collaboration with players to determine how it should evolve in the future.
Mas’s Concerns for Player Treatment
Mas expressed his disagreement with the suspension and the existing rule, emphasizing that the scheduling of MLS matches—less than 48 hours after the All-Star Game—was not fair to the players. "That’s not right," he asserted. "That’s not right to the players."
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