The Major League Soccer (MLS), has suspended Inter Miami’s top players, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, for missing this week’s All-Star festivities without official clearance.
Waza House reports that the suspension, announced on Friday, means both players will miss Inter Miami’s league game against FC Cincinnati scheduled for Saturday night.
According to MLS regulations, players selected for the annual All-Star Game who fail to attend without permission are subject to a one-game suspension.
Despite being voted into the All-Star team, Messi and Alba skipped both the Skills Challenge on Tuesday and the main All-Star match against Mexico’s Liga MX select side on Wednesday.
Their non-participation has now cost them a place in Inter Miami’s weekend fixture.
Reacting to the decision, Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, expressed displeasure over the rule, stating that Messi was “extremely upset” about the outcome.
“I don’t agree with the rule,” Mas said. “I have made my thoughts known to the commissioner very plainly.”
The club has yet to confirm if any appeal will be filed.
However, the absence of two of their biggest stars could affect Miami’s performance in the highly anticipated clash against Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have confirmed that their pre-season friendly against Japanese side Vissel Kobe will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday in Tokyo, following the resolution of a contractual dispute with the event’s promoter.
Barcelona had initially cancelled the match on Thursday, citing “serious contractual breaches” by the promoter. However, in an update on Friday, July 25, the club stated that the issues had been resolved and the team had departed for Japan.
“FC Barcelona have resolved the issues that led to the cancellation of the friendly against Vissel Kobe. The match will take place as scheduled in Tokyo,” the club said in a statement.
Although Barcelona did not name the promoter in its latest update, it had previously identified the Yasuda Group when announcing the Asia tour.
Barcelona’s tour will also include fixtures against South Korean clubs FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4.