The frequently puzzling, possibly archaic, and definitely interesting rules, regulations, and guidelines governing Major League Soccer made plenty of headlines since my column last week—and FC Cincinnati found itself knee deep in the drama. Let’s dig in.
Garber messes with Messi
I didn’t think MLS Commissioner Don Garber had the gumption to do it. Lionel Messi and teammate Jordi Alba skipped last week’s MLS All-Star Game, failing to get the equivalent of a permission slip from the league. MLS rules are clear on this infraction: Skip the All-Star Game sans a medical reason, and you’re subject to a one-game suspension.
The league set a new attendance record last season in part because Messi helped fill stadiums that would have been half-full (or worse). And reasonable people can agree that the All-Star Game’s participation rule is silly. But 29 other teams adhered to it. I’m sure Pat Noonan would have preferred to have Evander and Miles Robinson recovering in Milford instead of traveling to Austin and back midweek ahead of Saturday’s match in Miami.
But Garber stuck to the rule and suspended his cash cow. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas defended Messi, calling the rule “draconian” and saying the decision to hold Messi and Alba out was the club’s call.
Off-field drama aside, FCC’s 0-0 draw in Miami reflected the finishing vacuum created by the absence of not only Messi, who has 18 goals in 18 league matches, but also FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey, who has 12 goals to his name and is out indefinitely with a leg injury. Both teams created tasty chances but blew golden chances time after time, including shooting regularly at the team’s goalkeepers.
FCC also had a stoppage-time winner ruled out for a highly questionable foul call on would-be goal scorer Miles Robinson. Nonetheless, taking four out of six points from Miami across 10 days is good business for the Orange and Blue. Even sans Messi and Alba, the Herons possess enough talent to topple any team in the league on any given night.
Something to keep an eye on: FC Cincinnati has played three full matches without Denkey. The Garys fired three past Miami in the first game, went 87 minutes before scoring at Real Salt Lake, and were blanked in South Florida.
Miami adds another designated player friend of Messi
Messi’s suspension overshadowed Inter Miami’s latest shiny addition: Rodrigo De Paul, a starting midfielder for La Liga power Atletico Madrid and a regular for Argentinian national team. Messi and former Barcelona buddies Alba and Sergio Busquets account for Miami’s three available Designated Player slots, but the Herons circumvented this dilemma by initially taking De Paul on loan. That the 31-year-old would leave one of world’s biggest clubs while still in the prime of his career shows the pull Messi still has, even in the twilight of his career.
FCC misses on Müller, but gains flexibility
FC Cincinnati’s persistence did not pay off with Thomas Müller, who is coming to MLS to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Because FCC owned the German legend’s “discovery rights,” however, Vancouver had to supply compensation to the Orange and Blue in order to officially sign Müller.
Discovery rights allow each MLS team to list up to five non-MLS players (who also have to meet other criteria) with whom they can exclusively pursue if the player becomes available. So, even though FC Cincinnati missed out on Müller, it reportedly acquired $400,000 in General Allocation Money—basically extra cap space—from Vancouver in exchange for Müller’s discovery rights.
Prior to this deal, FCC appeared to have little to no room against the salary cap. We’ll see if the extra cash is enough for General Manager Chris Albright to pursue an impact rotation player for the playoff run. An extra midfielder, perhaps?
On the field, MLS has paused league-wide for the annual Leagues Cup with Liga MX. FC Cincinnati begins three matches in eight days vs. Mexican sides on Thursday evening against Monterrey.
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on X at @GrantFreking.
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