Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has been handed an undiscloed fine for a recent infraction
Lionel Messi has been fined by Major League Soccer after being found to have made contact with Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan during a heated 2-2 draw between Inter Miami and the Union.
The Argentina superstar was one of two Miami players punished following separate incidents during second-half stoppage time.
Messi punished after heated exchange with Sullivan
Messi was fined an undisclosed amount after slapping Sullivan on the back of the neck during a confrontation between the pair late in Wednesday’s match.
The incident occurred as tensions boiled over between the two teams in the closing stages, with Messi and Sullivan exchanging words before the Inter Miami captain made contact with his opponent.
The punishment came despite Messi enjoying a memorable evening on the pitch. The 39-year-old scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, while also providing an assist as Inter Miami secured a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia.
However, his contribution was overshadowed by the confrontation with Sullivan, which ultimately landed him in trouble with MLS. The league announced the fine on Friday after reviewing the incident, with Messi receiving an undisclosed financial penalty.
Fracas also lands Fray in trouble
Messi was not the only Inter Miami player punished following the chaotic conclusion to the match. Defender Ian Fray was also fined after grabbing Sullivan around the neck during another incident in stoppage time.
Sullivan had lost his footing while attempting to dribble into the penalty area before becoming tangled with Fray. The Philadelphia midfielder then got back to his feet and tackled the Miami defender, escalating the confrontation.
The match eventually descended into further chaos when Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan were both shown red cards for an off-the-ball scuffle.
However, MLS later overturned Cavan Sullivan’s punishment. The league’s Independent Review Panel unanimously voted to rescind the red card and one-match suspension handed to the Philadelphia youngster. That decision means Sullivan will not serve the originally imposed suspension.
Elsewhere, Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich was also fined after being found guilty of embellishment during his team’s 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United.