Lionel Messi has been fined by the MLS (Major League Soccer) management for inappropriate conduct during the opening match against New York City FC that took place on February 22.
The amount of fine imposed by the MLS Disciplinary Committee has not been disclosed yet. The league announced the disciplinary action on Tuesday.
Why Lionel Messi Was Fined
The star forward was reprimanded for raising hands to the face, head or neck of an opponent. He was seen putting his hand on the opposition coaching staff Mehdi Ballouchy’s back of neck.
💰 Lionel Messi Gets Fined!
The Inter Miami captain has been fined an undisclosed amount by MLS for “violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy” after the 2-2 draw vs New York City FC.
NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy not fined.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/7PMzH0gsog
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) February 25, 2025
Messi was also involved in an argument with head referee, Alexis Da Silva and was angry with match referee Rosendo Mendoza for “unfair” decisions. The incident involving the Argentine occurred after the final whistle.
Another Inter Miami star Luis Suarez has also been fined for violating the same MLS policy, after he pinched the back of opposing player Birk Risa’s neck in an incident at half-time.
Miami were one player down due to an early red card and they also received a yellow before the break before the shocking events unfolded.
The whole drama started when the referee denied a second yellow for NYCFC for the reckless tackle on an Inter Miami player. Suarez led Miami’s protest against match referee, Rosendo Mendoza.
MLS’s discipline rule reads, “individuals witnessed to have contacted the face, head, and/or neck of an opponent, which incites or escalates an individual incident (as determined by the Disciplinary Committee) will receive a minimum of a fine.”
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The match ended in a 2-2 draw. 10-man Miami survived a defeat and walked away with one point from their first MLS game. Messi provided a clutch assist to Telasco Segovia, who scored an equalizer in stoppage time.
Despite the fines, both Messi and Suárez featured in Inter Miami’s clash against Kansas City on Tuesday and found themselves on the scoresheet as Miami sealed the second leg with a 4-1 aggregate in the first-round tie of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
