Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was sentenced to a fine on Tuesday for a surprising incident with an assistant coach from the New York City FC after the end of their match to open the major leagues season.
The amount that Messi was sentenced to a fine was not disclosed.
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Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi, on the left, speaks with the referee in the first half of a MLS football match against the New York City FC, Saturday February 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in Florida . (APO photo / Rebecca Blackwell)
Messi left the field after the 2-2 draw. He had received a yellow card following a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva. He then exchanged words with the assistant coach of NYCFC Mehdi Ballouchy.
Messi began to move away from the crashes when he turned to the trainer and put his right hand at the back of his neck and tightened. We don’t know what the two said, but it seemed to be enough for MLS to make the fine.
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Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi, n ° 10, celebrates his team’s first goal against Sporting Kansas City during the first half of a football match of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday 25 February 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, in Florida. (APO photo / Rebecca Blackwell)
“The Disciplinary Committee of the MLS inflicted a fine of the Inter Miami attacker Cf Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount for having violated the hands in the face / head / neck of an adversary policy after the conclusion of match D ‘Inter Miami against the New York City FC on February 22, “the league says.
Luis Suarez, Messi’s teammate in Miami, was also sentenced to an undisclosed amount “for having violated the hands in the face / head / neck of an adversary policy at half-time” in the same match. He caught NYCFC Birk Risa on the back of the neck.
Inter Miami followed the controversy with a 3-1 victory against Sporting Kansas City later Tuesday to go to the next round of the CONCACAF championship cup.
The goalkeeper of the New York City FC, Matt Freeese, stops a score attempt by Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, as a midfielder of the New York City FC Justin Haak, # 80, on the Second half of an MLS football match, Saturday February 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (APO photo / Rebecca Blackwell)
Messi and Suarez both scored.
