Mascherano’s Reaction to Suárez Suspension
Javier Mascherano, the head coach of Inter Miami, expressed a mix of confusion and disappointment regarding the suspension of Luis Suárez ahead of their crucial playoff match against Nashville. This suspension comes after Suárez was penalized for a kicking incident involving Nashville’s Andy Nájar during their previous encounter on November 1, which Miami lost by a score of 2-1. Notably, the referee did not issue any cards at the time of the incident, which adds to Mascherano’s perplexity over the disciplinary action.
Comments on the Disciplinary Decision
In comments made on Friday, Mascherano reiterated the club’s respect for the disciplinary committee’s ruling while firmly stating his disagreement with it.
“I found the decision to be quite odd,”
he remarked, highlighting that the play had been scrutinized by VAR on-site without suggesting any necessary punishment from either the referee or the VAR official.
Despite the disappointment, Mascherano acknowledged that such rulings are part of the league’s regulations and that the club would comply, albeit not without reservations.
“We may not agree with it, but we will respect the decision and hope that these regulations are applied uniformly across all cases,”
he added.
Challenges Ahead for Inter Miami
The head coach also disclosed that Suárez’s appeal against the ban was swiftly denied, further compounding the team’s challenges.
“I learned about the sanction on Monday night; things progressed quickly thereafter,”
he explained.
“Although the club was not permitted to appeal, Suárez utilized our resources to submit his own appeal, but it was rejected within hours.”
Suárez himself reacted with surprise to the ban, as incidents like the one that led to his suspension are commonplace in matches. As Inter Miami prepares for their decisive third match against Nashville on Saturday at Chase Stadium, his absence will be felt, with Mascherano acknowledging the forward’s pivotal role within the team.
Significance of the Upcoming Match
The significance of this upcoming match cannot be understated—should they win, Inter Miami will not only secure a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinal but will also achieve a historic milestone by advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since their inception into MLS in 2020.
While losing Suárez is a setback, Mascherano encouraged his team to focus on their preparations instead of dwelling on the suspension.
“His presence is crucial, but we must channel our energy into how we prepare for the match and strive for victory tomorrow, which will ensure our advancement,”
he stated. Inter Miami initially won the first game of this best-of-three series 3-1, but their recent defeat has set the stage for an intense showdown in the final match.
