Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi was fined by Major League Soccer on Friday following a physical confrontation during a match against the Philadelphia Union, according to reports from Major League Soccer and Yahoo Sports.
MLS Discipline and Policy Violations
The league issued a statement on Friday announcing that Messi received an undisclosed financial penalty for violating the circuit’s policy regarding hands to the face, head, or neck of an opponent, as reported by Yahoo Sports. The altercation occurred during the 101st minute of a 2-2 draw between Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union.
Video footage of the sequence shows Union player Quinn Sullivan walking past the Argentina national team captain on the pitch. Following a brief verbal exchange between the two players, Messi delivered a quick, open-handed slap to the back of Sullivan’s head. Sullivan subsequently turned and placed his nose directly against the forward’s face before teammates and officials separated them.
Additional League Sanctions
The disciplinary action extended beyond the Inter Miami star.
The league has not released further disciplinary measures regarding the match, and official institutional statements remain limited to the announcement of the fines.
