Controversy in MLS, Messi punished for not participating in the All-Star Game

Lionel Messi is at the center of a new controversy in the American championship, after being sentenced by MLS to a one-game suspension due to his absence from the All-Star game between the MLS and Liga MX stars, held on Wednesday in Austin, Texas.

His teammate, Jordi Alba, was also punished along with him.

This means both will miss Inter Miami's crucial clash with Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.

This decision has caused numerous reactions and sparked a debate over the league's priorities.

Inter Miami justified Messi's absence with sporting reasons, emphasizing that the Argentine captain has played five full matches within 14 days, in a heavy physical load that began since the end of the World Cup.

Messi has had more minutes on the pitch than any other player in MLS this term and the club decided to protect him to avoid the risk of injury.

However, MLS stuck to its internal regulations, which provide for a one-game suspension for any player missing the All-Star Game without a direct medical excuse.

This precedent has been applied before, such as in the case of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018, when the LA Galaxy refused his participation due to the artificial grass pitch in Atlanta.

The decision to punish Messi has sparked a huge debate in the United States: does it make sense for MLS to sacrifice championship competition for a commercial event like the All-Star Game?

Messi is the biggest figure to ever come to this league and has brought an unprecedented surge in its popularity.

Is MLS harming itself in the name of rules?

Meanwhile, Inter Miami, currently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference, is seven points behind Cincinnati, but with three games in hand.

Messi's absence in such an important match could have major sporting and image consequences for the club and for MLS itself.

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