Inter Miami blasts MLS for ‘draconian' suspension of Lionel Messi
Both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will be forced to miss one game after sitting out of the MLS All-Star Game, and the club's co-owner, Jorge Mas, did not hold back when talking about how Inter Miami felt about the punishment.
3 Jorge Mas Santos, owner of Inter Miami CF looks on prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Getty Images
'Lionel Messi is very upset, like we all are in the club, with the fact that they won't be able to play tomorrow night. But I think what we have to do as a club is to get together as one, have an attitude that is us against the world,' Mas said at a news conference Friday.
Inter Miami confirmed that the players did not decide to sit out the game but that the club made the call due to the number of games that were played in quick succession.
The team played nine games in just 36 days.
'I think that the punishment for the rule is frankly draconian,' Mas said.
Inter Miami will face off against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, the best team in the Eastern Conference.
3 Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) warms up before the match against the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
'Obviously, it was not a positive reaction [from Messi and Alba],' Mas said. 'They want to compete, they want to play games. That's what they're here for — to play and win. They understand the magnitude of tomorrow night's game.'
The club said that if it finds itself in the same predicament again next year, the decision would not change, and they would rest whoever is an all-star at the time.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league will take 'a hard look at the policy moving forward.'
3 MLS Commissioner Don Garber smiles prior to the 2025 MLS All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium on July 23, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
MLS via Getty Images
'I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve,' Garber added.
Despite Messi and Inter Miami currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, they are only six points behind first-place Cincinnati.
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