News Summary
Inter Miami CF faced FC Cincinnati in a scoreless draw, missing star players Messi and Alba due to suspensions for skipping the MLS All-Star Game. Coach Mascherano criticized the league’s disciplinary actions and highlighted questionable officiating, as Miami remains the only team without a penalty awarded this season. The match featured a disallowed goal for Cincinnati, raising further concerns over fairness in officiating. Miami’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities without their stars underlines ongoing challenges for the team in the MLS standings.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Inter Miami’s Stalemate Draws Criticism Over MLS Decisions and Officiating
Inter Miami CF played to a scoreless draw against FC Cincinnati at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on July 26, a match marked by a series of controversial decisions and notable absences. The game was heavily impacted by the suspension of star players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, both of whom were sidelined due to their refusal to participate in the MLS All-Star Game, an action taken by Major League Soccer as a disciplinary measure.
Suspension of Messi and Alba
Messi and Alba’s absence from the match was a direct result of their decision to skip the All-Star Game, leading the league to suspend them from participating in this fixture. This suspension stirred criticism from Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano, who questioned the rationale behind penalizing players differently based on the match location—home versus away games. He pointed out that, in terms of revenue and audience engagement, there is often little objection when high-profile players miss league matches played at home, contrasting with the league’s stance on away fixtures.
Refereeing and Penalty Disputes
Inter Miami, notably, is the only team in MLS this season that has not been awarded a penalty kick. During the Cincinnati match, coach Mascherano indicated that there were at least two moments during the game where his team should have earned penalties, asserting that the officiating was inconsistent and unfavorable toward his side. Despite their attacking efforts, Miami finished with zero penalties awarded, a statistic that has raised questions about possible discrepancies in officiating standards across the league.
One key moment in the match involved a controversial decision at the end. Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson scored a header, but the goal was disallowed after a review confirmed a foul called on a Miami defender, Noah Allen. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upheld the initial foul call, ruling that the goal did not stand. This decision was met with frustration from Miami’s sideline, especially considering the tight contest and the importance of the points.
Disciplinary Actions and Match Dynamics
During the game, Javier Mascherano received a yellow card for his reactions toward officials, illustrating the tense atmosphere. Miami earned just a single point from the draw, maintaining their fifth-place position in the Eastern Conference standings with a total of 42 points. FC Cincinnati, on the other hand, dropped to second place with 49 points, trailing behind Philadelphia, which has 50 points.
Despite missing their star players, Miami’s offense managed to outshoot Cincinnati 13-8 overall, although they were only on target three times compared to Cincinnati’s four attempts. Rocco Rios Novo made his first clean sheet with Inter Miami during this match, which also marked their first since June 14. The team’s offensive struggles without Messi were evident, especially considering Cincinnati’s key player Evander—who had previously scored twice against Miami—was kept scoreless in this matchup.
Additional Context and Standings
Miami was missing several players due to suspension and injury, including Maxi Falcon, who was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation. The draw represented a missed opportunity for Miami to close the gap in the standings after a previous 3-0 defeat to Cincinnati earlier in the season. The result underscores ongoing challenges for the team in offense production and consistency without their designated stars.
Overall, the match highlighted issues related to league discipline policies, refereeing decisions, and team depth, offering a snapshot of the complexities faced by Inter Miami in their current MLS campaign. The ongoing debate over officiating and disciplinary measures continues to influence perceptions of fairness and competitive integrity within the league.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati Report
- USA Today: Mascherano Questions MLS Discipline
- Goal: Inter Miami Player Ratings vs FC Cincinnati
- Cleveland.com: How to Watch Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati
- NJ.com: Watch Lionel Messi Play Live
- Wikipedia: Lionel Messi
- Google Search: Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati
- Google Scholar: Inter Miami Soccer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
- Google News: Inter Miami FC
Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
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