Inter Miami, the soccer club co-owned by David Beckham, has been fined a record $2 million by Major League Soccer (MLS) for breaching salary budget regulations. This penalty comes after an investigation into the signing of Blaise Matuidi, a former French international midfielder, last year.
The MLS announced that Matuidi, along with Andres Reyes, should have occupied designated player slots. In addition to this violation, Inter Miami was found to have undisclosed agreements resulting in the underreporting of salaries for Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Nicolas Figal, and Julian Carranza.
As a result of these infractions, managing owner Jorge Mas has received a fine of $250,000, and Paul McDonough, the club’s former chief operating officer and sporting director, has been suspended until the end of the 2022 MLS season. Furthermore, Inter Miami’s allocation of funds has been reduced by $2,271,250 for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
It is important to note that none of the club’s owners or players were found guilty of any wrongdoing, and their contracts remain unaffected.
MLS commissioner Don Garber emphasized the significance of upholding league regulations, stating that “the integrity of our rules is sacrosanct.” The sanctions imposed on Inter Miami are intended to serve as both a reflection of the severity of the violations and a deterrent for future roster rule breaches. The MLS hopes that these penalties will encourage complete cooperation from all parties in future investigations.
Although Mas has been cleared of any wrongdoing, he was still fined due to his responsibility as a managing owner to ensure the club’s compliance with league rules. Inter Miami has vowed to address these issues, implementing significant changes in their management structure.
Mas expressed the club’s ambitions and commitment to their fans, market, and ownership group. They aim to become one of the most-followed soccer teams in North America while remaining dedicated to supporting their team and building a roster they can be proud of.