Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls had joint request to postpone MLS game rejected, claims Tata Martino... despite both teams missing a host of first-team players this weekend

Tata Martino claims Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls unsuccessfully tried to postpone their MLS fixture this weekend despite both sides being without a number of first-team players.

Miami head coach Martino has a long list of absentees heading into Saturday's game at Red Bull Arena, with star man Lionel Messi unavailable as he continues to recover from a muscle injury.

He will also be without up to eight other potential starters due to fitness problems and this week's international break, which has also caused issues for New York boss Sandro Schwarz.

Schwarz is unable to call upon captain Emil Forsberg this weekend with the Sweden midfielder away on international duty, along with four other Red Bulls teammates.

Tata Martino claims Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls unsuccessfully tried to postpone their MLS fixture this weekend

Miami boss Martino will be without star man Lionel Messi among many others on Saturday

Red Bulls also have a long list of absentees which includes captain Emil Forsberg (pictured), who is away on international duty

On the eve of Saturday's game, Martino told reporters that Miami were approached by the Red Bulls about requesting a postponement amid the current FIFA international break, which they agreed with. Yet that request was not approved by the US Soccer Federation.

'We received a request from Red Bulls to postpone this match and we agreed, but the federation didn't approve,' the Inter manager said.

'It’s something that will have to be considered, the league will have to continue assessing [playing though FIFA breaks].'

Despite almost every other top soccer league across the world pausing its schedule, MLS teams are not afforded the same luxury during FIFA international breaks, meaning a number of them will be threadbare this weekend.

US Soccer chiefs have a dilemma on their hands after reintroducing the Leagues Cup last year, which runs four weeks in the middle of the season and makes it difficult to postpone fixtures. 

Fortunately for Martino, he will still be able to deploy three Champions League winners in Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, with the former not picked by his native Uruguay and the latter pair retiring from Spain duty in recent years.

Messi picked up a muscle injury during Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Nashville earlier this month

Messi would still have been missing from Saturday's game even if he was fit after the Argentina captain was called up by his country, before being forced to withdraw from their games in the US this weekend.

The 36-year-old sustained his muscle injury during Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Nashville earlier this month, limping out of the 3-1 win early after getting on the scoresheet in the 23rd minute.

Martino says his fellow Argentine has since resumed light training over the past four days, but will not be ready in time for Saturday's trip to New York.