Lionel Messi could be fined or suspended by Major League Soccer after becoming involved in a heated confrontation during Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union on Thursday.
Messi was not shown a card by the referee, but video footage appears to show the Argentina forward tapping or slapping Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck before confronting the Philadelphia player face-to-face. The incident is expected to be reviewed by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
The match ended in disorder after tensions boiled over during the closing stages. Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan and Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright were both sent off following a mass confrontation involving players from both sides.
Messi had earlier scored in the 26th minute, ending his goal drought since the death of his father. His goal, however, was not enough to secure victory for Inter Miami, who had to settle for a point.
The trouble began when Inter Miami defender Ian Fray went past Quinn Sullivan while the Philadelphia player was on the ground. Sullivan then brought Fray down, prompting other players to become involved and causing the situation to escalate.
Cavan Sullivan quickly intervened in support of his brother and became involved in an exchange with Bright. Both players were eventually dismissed as the incident developed into a wider melee.
Although the referee took action against Sullivan and Bright, Messi received no immediate punishment. Footage circulated after the game showed him making contact with Quinn Sullivan’s neck before moving towards him in an apparent confrontation.
“Lionel Messi tapped Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck before confronting him head-on. This action will now be evaluated by the Disciplinary Committee.”
The official closest to the incident did not appear to see the moment when Messi made contact with Sullivan. He did, however, move quickly to separate the two players after noticing the tension between them.
According to Inter Miami reporter Jose Armando, MLS has begun examining Messi’s conduct. A financial penalty is considered more likely than a suspension, although the league’s regulations allow the Disciplinary Committee to impose a ban.
MLS rules state that a player may be fined for intentionally touching an opponent’s face, head or neck when that action initiates or escalates an individual incident or leads to a mass confrontation. The regulations say that any person found to have made such contact in circumstances that trigger or intensify an incident must receive at least a financial sanction.
That leaves Messi waiting for the committee’s decision, with the possibility of a fine or a more serious punishment still open. His status should become clearer before Inter Miami’s next fixture, against Toronto FC on Saturday.
The disciplinary review follows a match in which Messi’s goal briefly appeared to put his side in a strong position, but the late confrontation overshadowed the result and left two other players facing immediate suspensions as a result of their red cards.
