Messi reaches five yellows, but won't be banned: how MLS works

Messi reaches five yellows, but won't be banned: how MLS works Lionel Messi set alarm bells ringing among Inter Miami fans after receiving a yellow card in the recent 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati. As it was his fifth yellow card of the regular season, the rules in most leagues around the world would suggest an automatic one-match suspension for accumulation. However, the Argentine star will be available for the next crucial match against New England Revolution. The explanation for this apparent exception lies in a distinctive rule in the American league's regulations, formally known as the Good Behavior Incentive . Unlike traditional competitions, where suspensions take effect as soon as the disciplinary threshold is reached, Major League Soccer rewards clean play: if a player goes five consecutive matches without receiving a booking or disciplinary sanction, one yellow card is automatically deducted from his accumulated total. However, the benefit comes with a specific restriction: each player can use it up to three times during the regular season. Once that limit is reached, bookings count toward the total without any further deductions, regardless of how many matches the player goes without disciplinary action. In the Argentine captain's case, two cards had already been removed from his tally thanks to his sustained clean play. Five booking-free matches passed between the yellow cards he received against Orlando City and Nashville , while another ten matches without disciplinary action separated the latter booking from the one he received against Atlanta . For that reason, although he picked up another yellow against Cincinnati, Messi's official disciplinary record counts only three bookings toward his league total. The number 10 will therefore be available this Sunday against New England Revolution , on Matchday 33 of the regular season, without having to serve a suspension, bolstering Inter Miami's playoff ambitions. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.