MLS fines Messi for striking opponent

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 12: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF reacts during the Leagues Cup Phase One match between Inter Miami CF and Leon at Nu Stadium on August 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Major League Soccer fined Inter Miami’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount on Friday for slapping Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck in the clubs’ 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

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The league’s disciplinary committee said it had levied the fine “for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent.”

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Miami’s Ian Fray was fined an undisclosed amount for the same infraction.

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It was late in stoppage time of a testy contest when Messi approached the center circle to confront Sullivan while the ball was in play in another area of the field.

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After a brief exchange, Messi took a swipe at Sullivan, who then squared up to the Argentine star in a fight-style stare-down.

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Referee Filip Dujic, who had his back turned during the incident, arrived to separate the players but did not show either of them a card.

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Dujic did send off Cavan Sullivan, younger brother and teammate of Quinn, and Miami’s Italian midfielder Yannick Bright after their stoppage time scuffle in Miami’s penalty area.

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AFP

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