Major League Soccer announced sanctions against Inter Miami CF after the club was found to have breached the league’s Late Kickoff Policy on multiple occasions, resulting in a financial penalty and a series of disciplinary measures.
The Late Kickoff Policy in MLS
The regulation mandates that every team must have its players and staff on the field and fully prepared to play at the scheduled kickoff time for both halves, ensuring that matches begin punctually and without unnecessary delay.
Repeated violations trigger escalating fines and, for coaching personnel, potential match‑day suspensions, as the league seeks to preserve the integrity of scheduling and the expectation of readiness across all clubs.
Coach Guillermo Hoyos and the upcoming suspension
Inter Miami’s head coach Guillermo Hoyos will miss the team’s home fixture against CF Montréal on August 29, serving the one‑match ban that the league imposed following the latest violation of the kickoff readiness rule.
The sanction underscores the league’s commitment to holding both clubs and their leaders accountable, reinforcing the expectation that teams be fully prepared when the whistle blows and that any deviation will be met with swift disciplinary action.