MLS fines Messi after Sullivan slap in 2-2 Inter Miami match

Lionel Messi has been fined by Major League Soccer after slapping Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan during Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with the Union. The punishment followed a review of an incident in second-half stoppage time.

Messi and Sullivan exchanged words before the Inter Miami captain struck the back of the Philadelphia player’s neck. MLS announced the undisclosed financial penalty on Friday, adding disciplinary consequences to an evening in which Messi scored and provided an assist.

The goal was Messi’s first since the death of his father, Jorge Messi. His two direct contributions helped Inter Miami earn a point, but the late confrontation became the main disciplinary issue from the match.

Messi was one of two Inter Miami players fined over separate stoppage-time incidents. Defender Ian Fray was also punished after putting his hands around Sullivan’s neck during another confrontation involving the Philadelphia midfielder.

The incident involving Fray began when Sullivan lost his footing while trying to dribble into the penalty area and became entangled with the Miami defender. After getting up, Sullivan tackled Fray, escalating the dispute between the players.

The match also produced two red cards for an off-the-ball altercation involving Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan. However, MLS’s Independent Review Panel later unanimously overturned Cavan Sullivan’s dismissal and one-game suspension, so he will not serve that ban. Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich was separately fined for embellishment in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United.