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Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos
Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos.
Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer after making contact with Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan in the head and neck area during Inter Miami’s heated 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Inter Miami defender Ian Fray was also fined for a separate incident involving Sullivan during second-half stoppage time, MLS announced on Friday.
The incident involving Messi took place deep into stoppage time, when the Argentina captain exchanged words with Sullivan near midfield before appearing to slap him on the back of the neck. The confrontation briefly escalated as Sullivan turned towards Messi, although neither player was booked for the incident during the match. MLS later reviewed the footage and determined that Messi had violated its policy concerning contact with an opponent’s face, head or neck. He has not, however, been handed a suspension. The punishment came after a match in which Messi had scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, while also providing an assist for Inter Miami.
Messi fined under familiar MLS rule
It is not the first time Messi has been sanctioned under the same disciplinary provision. The Inter Miami star was also fined by MLS in February 2025 following an incident against New York City FC, when he was found to have violated the league’s policy regarding contact with an opponent’s face, head or neck.
This time, Sullivan found himself at the centre of several confrontations during a chaotic finale. In a separate incident, Sullivan lost his footing while carrying the ball into the penalty area and became tangled with Fray. The Inter Miami defender then grabbed Sullivan around the neck area, prompting another confrontation. MLS subsequently fined Fray under the same policy used in Messi’s case.
The late tension eventually resulted in two red cards, with Miami midfielder Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan, Quinn’s younger brother, both sent off following an off-the-ball scuffle.
However, Cavan Sullivan’s punishment has since been overturned. Philadelphia appealed the decision, and MLS confirmed that its Independent Review Panel unanimously voted to rescind both the red card and the accompanying one-match suspension.
The decision means Sullivan will be available for Philadelphia’s next fixture. That produced an unusual disciplinary aftermath to the match: Messi, who was not punished on the field for his confrontation, was later fined retrospectively, while Cavan Sullivan, who had been shown a red card, had his sanction removed completely.
Messi’s fine adds another talking point to what had already been an emotional night for the 39-year-old. He scored during the 2-2 draw and pointed towards the sky in celebration, with the goal coming after the death of his father earlier this month. It was his first goal since returning to action following the family bereavement.
The match itself ended amid considerable tension, with multiple confrontations during an extended period of stoppage time overshadowing the closing stages. MLS also announced separate disciplinary action elsewhere in the league, with Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich fined for embellishment during his side’s 2-1 defeat against Atlanta United.
For Inter Miami, however, the focus remains on Messi and Fray, both of whom escaped suspensions but have now been formally punished for their roles in the late flashpoints against Philadelphia.
