Messi, Alba not sanctioned over All-Star Game snub

Inter Miami CF caput manager Javier Mascherano confirmed the squad did not person a authorisation from Major League Soccer aft Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba failed to diagnostic successful the MLS All-Star Game successful Austin, Texas connected Wednesday night.

Though the 2 players were voted into the squad by fans and media, the league communicated the time of the lawsuit that Messi and Alba would not beryllium portion of the All-Star Game.

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.

"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. Let's anticipation helium tin bid alongside the radical truthful we tin number connected some of them for tomorrow's game. We haven't received immoderate [sanction.]"

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, preparing for the lucifer against FC Cincinnati connected Saturday nighttime astatine Chase Stadium. The manager revealed that the 2 whitethorn beryllium disposable for selection, depending connected fittingness levels.

Mascherano insists that though the All-Star crippled works successful theory, the lawsuit should not beryllium scheduled betwixt tournaments successful bid for players to consciousness good capable to participate.

"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.