Olaleye Idowu
The Major League Soccer, MLS, has suspended Inter Miami’s duo of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba.
Both players were voted into the All-Star Game, but failed to participate in any of the events this week.
Messi and Alba missed the All-Star skills challenge on Tuesday.
They were also absent at the MLS All-Star game against an equivalent select squad from Mexico’s LigaMX on Wednesday.
The MLS rules stipulate that players who miss the All-Star match without permission will be suspended.
On Friday, it was announced that Messi and Alba will serve a one-game ban.
This means they are both “unavailable” for Inter Miami’s league fixture against Cincinnati on Saturday night.
Jorge Mas, Inter Miami’s managing owner, has now revealed that Messi is “extremely upset” about the decision.
Mas added: “I don’t agree with the rule, I have made my thoughts know to the commissioner very plainly.”
