Messi and Alba banned for one match for breaking rules

Major League Soccer (MLS) has suspended Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba for one match. The decision was made after they failed to participate in last week's All-Star Game.

The MLS All-Star team won 3-1 against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars in the MLS All-Star Game held in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday. But two star players — Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba — were absent from the important exhibition match.

MLS said in a statement that "in accordance with league rules, a player who fails to participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval cannot play in his club's next match."

As a result, Messi and Alba will not be able to play for Inter Miami on Saturday at home against CF Cincinnati.

"It was a difficult decision to ban Messi," said MLS Commissioner Don Gerber. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think anyone has done more for MLS than Messi. I respect his commitment to Inter Miami. But we have a long-standing policy regarding the All-Star Game that we have to abide by."

Argentine legend Messi has scored 18 goals in 18 games this MLS season. His longtime Barcelona teammate Alba has played 19 games. They both reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup for Inter Miami, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter Miami played five games in July after the Club World Cup, with Messi scoring eight goals.

"Messi has shown a normal level of fatigue in his body, because he has had to play a lot of matches in the last few days. Players always have some discomfort, especially when they play three days in a row," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said in an interview with ESPN.

Source: BBC