MLS: Messi, Alba sanctioned for missing ASG

Inter Miami caput manager Javier Mascherano volition beryllium without stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba vs. FC Cincinnati aft MLS opted connected Friday to contented each a one-game authorisation for skipping the MLS All-Star Game successful Austin, Texas, connected Wednesday night.

MLS notified some clubs astir the determination connected Saturday's lucifer scheduled for Chase Stadium. League rules authorities that immoderate subordinate that chooses not to enactment successful the lawsuit without an approved aesculapian crushed tin beryllium taxable to a one-game suspension.

"Inter Miami CF's Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi volition beryllium unavailable for the club's lucifer against FC Cincinnati connected Saturday, July 26, owed to their lack astatine this week's Major League Soccer All-Star Game," the league said successful a statement. "Per league rules, immoderate subordinate who does not enactment successful the All-Star Game without anterior support from the league is ineligible to vie successful their club's adjacent match."

Though Messi and Alba were voted into the squad by fans and media, the league communicated the time of the lawsuit that they would not beryllium portion of the All-Star Game.

Mascherano said during Friday's grooming that though the All-Star Game works successful theory, the lawsuit should not beryllium scheduled betwixt tournaments successful bid for players to consciousness good capable to participate. At the clip of training, Mascherano did not yet cognize his stars would beryllium sanctioned.

"Well, Messi showed mean fatigue from the fig of games and minutes he's been playing," Mascherano said.

"Look, players ever person discomfort, particularly erstwhile they play each 3 days. But luckily, helium is returning today."

Mascherano aboriginal emphasized that Messi is not injured, but Alba did endure a sound aft the crippled against the New York Red Bulls connected July 19.

The 2 players returned to grooming connected Friday for the archetypal clip this week.

"What I deliberation is that if they privation to bash this benignant of event, it's large to bash it, and the information is that it's large for the league. There shouldn't beryllium a day successful the schedule. It's crazy. We've been playing 4 of the past 5 games away. We've been playing 4 away. We've been playing practically each 3 days," Mascherano said.

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"Stop for the weekend, the All-Star Games is played connected the weekend, and we travel backmost due to the fact that aft Wednesday, today, 48 hours aft having played, determination are teams that are going to play today, and it's not capable remainder for the players either. So, the archetypal happening we person to deliberation astir is that shot belongs to the players. And if shot belongs to the players, without players, it doesn't exist."

The Inter Miami manager has been vocal astir the request for remainder fixed the team's congested schedule.

Since February, Inter Miami has participated successful the Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS regular season, the Club World Cup and present hole to play 1 much league crippled earlier kicking disconnected the 2025 Leagues Cup run.

"We're the MLS squad that's played the astir games truthful acold this semester, by far," Mascherano said.