Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer after grabbing the neck of an opposition coach. At the conclusion of the game between Inter Miami and New York City FC on Saturday, Messi placed a hand on the back of NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy’s neck as he exited the field. Prior to this incident, the reigning league MVP had received a yellow card following a heated exchange with the referee. “The MLS Disciplinary Committee has imposed a fine on Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi for breaching the policy on hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent after the completion of Inter Miami’s match against New York City FC on February 22,” stated the league in a release on Tuesday. Messi’s teammate, Luis Suárez, was also fined an undisclosed amount for a similar action during the game, when he grabbed the back of NYCFC defender Birk Risa’s neck towards the end of the first half. CNN reached out to Inter Miami for their response to the fines. The match, which marked the teams’ first of the MLS season, concluded in a 2-2 draw after Telasco Segovia netted a stoppage-time equalizer for Miami. Suárez was additionally penalized for grabbing the neck of an opponent during the game. Inter Miami found themselves down to 10 players midway through the first half when scorer Tomás Avilés was deemed to have fouled Alonso Martínez in a crucial area, despite seemingly winning the ball. Following goals from Mitja Ilenič and Martínez that put NYCFC ahead 2-1, Miami managed to salvage a draw as Messi, who registered two assists in the match, set up Segovia for a goal to level the score. Miami also participated in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday, securing a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City and advancing to the round of 16 thanks to goals from Messi, Suárez, and Tadeo Allende. To access more CNN news and newsletters, please create an account at CNN.com.
