Messi receives MLS disciplinary fine after tense Inter Miami finale

Lionel Messi has been fined by Major League Soccer after striking Philadelphia Union player Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck during Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with the club.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee said Messi had breached the league’s policy on touching an opponent’s face, head or neck. The value of the fine has not been disclosed.

The incident happened in the closing stages of stoppage time, while the ball was being played elsewhere on the pitch. Messi approached Sullivan and the pair exchanged words before the Inter Miami captain made contact with the back of the Philadelphia player’s neck.

Sullivan responded with an intense stare, and referee Filip Dujic then stepped in to separate the two players. Neither player was shown a card because the referee did not see the contact when it occurred.

The action involving Messi was one of two disciplinary matters arising from the match. Inter Miami defender Ian Fray was also fined an undisclosed amount for a similar offence involving contact with an opponent’s face, head or neck.

No details were released about the size of either fine.

The sanctions followed a match that remained tense and eventful through its final moments. Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union shared four goals in a 2-2 draw, but one of the game’s most notable incidents was dealt with after the final whistle by the league’s disciplinary authorities.

Messi’s interaction with Sullivan took place away from the immediate play and did not lead to an on-field booking. The committee later reviewed the incident under MLS disciplinary rules before deciding that a financial penalty was appropriate.

The ruling means the matter was resolved through a fine rather than an additional on-field punishment. The league did not announce any suspension for either Messi or Fray.

Messi, the Argentina captain and Inter Miami’s leader, was involved in the late confrontation as the match moved towards its conclusion. Sullivan, who represents Philadelphia Union, was the opponent involved in the exchange.

The disciplinary committee’s decision applies specifically to the league’s rule governing physical contact with an opponent’s face, head or neck. Both Messi’s action and Fray’s separate incident were considered breaches of that policy.

The draw left the on-field contest level at 2-2, while the late confrontation ensured that the game continued to attract attention after the result had been settled. MLS subsequently confirmed the fines but withheld the amounts imposed on the two Inter Miami players.