MLS Suspends Inter Miami Coach Guillermo Hoyos for Late Kickoff Violations
Major League Soccer (MLS) is taking action against Inter Miami for their delays in starting games. On Thursday, the league announced that interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos will serve a one-game suspension for violating the League’s Late Kickoff Policy multiple times.
In addition to the suspension, the team and Hoyos will face an undisclosed fine for the repeated offenses. The policy requires that teams be on the field at the scheduled kickoff time for both halves of each match. According to the league, both clubs and coaching staff can incur escalating fines and suspensions for repeating such violations.
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Inter Miami has frequently arrived late to games, notably against Toronto FC last weekend and during a match with Nashville SC on August 15. On both occasions, Miami kept the opposing team waiting on the field for several minutes before finally taking the pitch.
While delaying kickoffs might aim to unsettle opponents, it has not proven effective for Miami, who lost 4-1 to Nashville and 2-1 to Toronto, conceding five goals early in the second half throughout these matches.
Hoyos’ one-game suspension will take effect this Saturday when Miami faces CF Montréal.
In a twist, news of Hoyos’ suspension coincided with reports of Inter Miami hiring a new head coach. Multiple sources indicate that Cristian “Kily” González, an Argentinian coach, has agreed to take over the position, succeeding Hoyos as the head coach for Lionel Messi’s team.
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Inter Miami is expected to formally announce González’s hiring on Friday, but it remains uncertain whether he will be able to step into the role immediately with Hoyos suspended. It is also unclear whether these two developments are connected or simply a coincidence.
If all details unfold as reported, González will become the third coach for Miami this season following Javier Mascherano’s unexpected resignation in April, and he will mark the fourth Argentinian manager since Messi’s arrival at the club in 2023.
MLS is finally cracking down on Inter Miami’s tendency to keep their opponents waiting on the field before kickoff. The league announced Thursday that the team’s interim head coach, Guillermo Hoyos, has been suspended one game for “repeated violations of the League’s Late Kickoff Policy.”
Hoyos and the team were also both fined an undisclosed amount for repeatedly violating the policy, will dictates that teams be on the field at the time that kickoff is scheduled in the first and second half of every game. Per the league, both clubs and coaches can be given escalating fined and eventually a suspension for repeat behavior.
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Miami has arrived late to kickoffs for weeks, including last week’s game against Toronto FC and a match against Nashville SC on Aug. 15. In both instances, Inter Miami left the opposing team waiting for several minutes on the field before finally emerging from the locker room.
Though the move is theoretically used as a tactic to try and put opponents off their game, it didn’t quite seem to work: Miami lost 4-1 to Nashville and 2-1 to Toronto, with five of goals in total allowed early in the second half.
Hoyos’ suspension will be served this Saturday, as Miami hosts CF Montréal.
But there’s an added wrinkle: The news of Hoyos’ suspension came at the same time as reports of Miami finally hiring a new head coach. Multiple reports on Thursday indicate that Argentinian coach Cristian “Kily” González has agreed to become Inter Miami’s new permanent head coach, taking the reigns of Lionel Messi and Co. from Hoyos.
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Miami is reportedly set to make an announcement about the hire on Friday, though it’s unclear if González will be available to take over the team on Saturday with Hoyos suspended. It’s also unclear if the two events are related, or if it’s simply coincidence.
If everything proceeds as reported, González will become Miami’s third coach this season, after Javier Mascherano stepped down unexpectedly in April. He will also become the club’s fourth Argentinian manager since Messi joined the squad in 2023.
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