Lionel Messi has been hit with a fine by Major League Soccer after slapping Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw at Subaru Park on Wednesday evening.
The 39-year-old struck Sullivan around the back of the head late in the game, with Messi claiming the Union player had elbowed him after he had played the ball. Sullivan reacted angrily to the slap, though the referee stepped in quickly to prevent the situation from escalating further. The MLS confirmed the fine but chose not to disclose the exact figure.
A night of flashpoints
Messi was not the only Inter Miami player to find himself in hot water. Defender Ian Fray was also fined by the league after grabbing Sullivan by the neck following a separate coming-together between the pair inside the penalty area. The incident occurred after Sullivan lost his footing, with both players becoming entangled before Fray's reaction drew the punishment.
The match descended into chaos in stoppage time when two players — Miami's Yannick Bright and Sullivan's brother Cavan — were both shown red cards. The MLS subsequently reviewed Cavan Sullivan's dismissal and rescinded his one-game ban.
It was, by any measure, a bad-tempered affair, and the fines issued to Messi and Fray underline just how febrile the atmosphere became at Subaru Park.
Messi scores on emotional return
The disciplinary headlines, however, do not tell the full story of the evening. Messi scored Inter Miami's second goal, netting for the first time since the death of his father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away aged 68 following a long illness. The Argentine had returned to his homeland to attend the funeral before travelling back to the United States for this fixture.
In the aftermath of his father's death, Messi has suggested he may not continue playing football for much longer — comments that will inevitably fuel speculation about his future, though Inter Miami will be hoping he has plenty left to give this season.
Conference picture
Despite the draw, Inter Miami remain well placed in the Eastern Conference, sitting second — though they trail leaders Nashville by seven points, a gap that will require consistent results to close over the coming weeks.
For all the noise surrounding the disciplinary fallout, the result itself is the kind of dropped point that could prove costly in a tight conference race. Miami will need a sharper focus when they next take to the pitch if they are to mount a genuine challenge at the top.
The MLS has acted swiftly in sanctioning those involved, sending a clear signal that ill-discipline — regardless of a player's stature — will not go unpunished. Whether the fines serve as a sufficient deterrent in the heat of future contests remains to be seen.
Frequently asked
- Why was Lionel Messi fined by MLS?
- Messi was fined by Major League Soccer after slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan around the back of the head during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw. Messi claimed Sullivan had elbowed him, but the league still sanctioned him for his reaction. The exact amount of the fine was not disclosed.
- What happened in the Inter Miami vs Philadelphia Union game?
- The match ended 2-2 and was marked by several flashpoints. Messi slapped Quinn Sullivan, Ian Fray grabbed Sullivan by the neck, and two players — Yannick Bright and Cavan Sullivan — were sent off in stoppage time. Both Messi and Fray were subsequently fined, while Cavan Sullivan's red card suspension was later rescinded on review.
- Where do Inter Miami stand in the MLS Eastern Conference?
- Inter Miami are currently second in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind leaders Nashville following the draw with Philadelphia Union.