Overview

• Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba have been handed one-match suspensions under MLS rules after withdrawing from the July 23 All-Star Game without prior approval
• Their bans render both players ineligible for Inter Miami’s Saturday fixture against FC Cincinnati as stipulated by the league’s participation requirement
• Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano and co-owner Jorge Mas defended the rest decision, attributing the absence to accumulated match fatigue from a congested schedule
• Commissioner Don Garber called the enforcement “very difficult” and committed to working with players and clubs to revise the All-Star Game policy
• The suspensions have intensified calls for calendar adjustments to avoid midweek All-Star games and better balance league showcases with player health