Five Yellow Cards but No Ban for Messi as MLS 'Good Behaviour' Rule Saves Him

Lionel Messi will not face any suspension despite collecting five yellow cards in Major League Soccer (MLS). The Inter Miami captain was booked again on Thursday in the 2-2 draw against Cincinnati. Under the rules that should have triggered a one-match ban, but for now he remains free, and there is no obstacle to him taking the field in the next match.

In the 44th minute of the Cincinnati match, Messi fouled opposing midfielder Samuel Guidi. The referee immediately showed him a yellow card. Messi's body language made it clear that he was quite annoyed by the referee's decision.

Earlier this season the World Cup-winning forward had also been booked in matches against the Colorado Rapids, Orlando City, Nashville and Atlanta. Normally five yellow cards bring a mandatory one-match suspension, but a special MLS rule has saved him this time.

The rule is called the 'Good Behaviour' policy. It exists to reward players who maintain consistent discipline on the field. Under the rule, if a player plays five or more consecutive matches without a yellow card, one card is removed from his accumulated list.

There is, however, a condition. A player can enjoy this special benefit at most three times in a whole season. Once that quota is exhausted, no further card will be wiped even if he plays matches with a gap.

In Messi's case, the good behaviour policy has already worked twice. Between the Orlando City and Nashville matches he went five straight matches without a card, and the gap between his second card and the card against Atlanta was a long 10 matches.

That is why, even after the booking against Cincinnati, the number of effective yellow cards on Messi's official disciplinary record stands at only three. With the five-card quota not yet full, there is no barrier to the Inter Miami captain playing on Sunday in the 33rd match of the regular season against the New England Revolution.