Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba has been controversially handed a fine for a late-game incident on Sunday at the Houston Dynamo, shortly before teammate Ian Fray was handed a post-game red
Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba was fined by the MLS following an altercation with Houston Dynamo midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk (
Image: Photo by Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Another week, another fine for an Inter Miami star. Following Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez’s fines following their controversial 2-2 MLS opening weekend draw with New York City FC, Jordi Alba has become the latest ex-Barcelona turned Miami player to be fined by the league.
This fine came as a response to an incident involving Alba and Houston Dynamo midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk, during Miami’s recent 4-1 win in the Lone Star State. In the final minute of extra time, Alba could be seen tapping Kowalczyk on the back of his head/neck before pushing him away in the chest, as they engaged in a heated discussion.
Fined for the same violation as Messi and Suarez, like his teammates, Alba’s fine was for an undisclosed amount.
This punishment has proven extremely controversial as Kowalczyk is yet to face any level of punishment for appearing to shove Alba away earlier in the game, stamping on his foot in the process.
This incident was quickly met with repercussions for Kowalczyk in game, however, with Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi immediately responding with a harsh tackle. Cremaschi was given a yellow card in response. Moments later, Alba was booked for a tackle on Kowalczyk, too.
The beef didn’t stop there though, as after the final whistle and all in front of the referee, Miami defender Ian Fray found his shirt being grabbed by an angered Ethan Bartlow of Houston. A dispute between the two followed, with Fray repeatedly pushing Bartlow away as he continued to hold onto his jersey. In the process, Fray appeared to push Bartlow in the neck, resulting in a red card.
Fray’s red card left Miami head coach Javier Mascherano furious in his post-game press conference. “I saw the video. Ian did nothing. He did absolutely nothing,” Mascherano insisted, via ESPN.
Head coach Javier Mascherano was furious with officials on Sunday after Ian Fray was handed a post-game red card ( Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
“He wants to go to the dressing room and the rival holds him by the shirt and tries to get it out once, twice, three times, and the referee is next to him, he’s watching him. That’s what worries me. That’s what worries me, because he didn’t do anything.
“When my players do nothing, I kill for them. Even if it costs whatever it costs. Today again, we were winning 4-1, the game was over, two or three fouls that were not yellow and filled us with yellows, I’m not going to shut up anymore. There are things that I’m not going to shut up about. And in this case, he didn’t do anything. Absolutely nothing.
“Because in the end there is something that cannot be changed, which is reality, what you see with your eyes. And what we all see, that must be considered, that is not subjective. So I would like the journalists who are the ones who see it, also give their opinion on this. When something is wrong, it’s wrong and it’s over. This is how it is for me. As if we were wrong, we will also say it, but honestly, not this one, not the one with Ian.”
After a frustrating end to what was a dominant display in Houston, the onus is now on Miami to brush aside their frustrations as they prepare to host Jamaican side Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday.
