Slapped an opponent! How MLS will punish Lionel Messi
In the MLS, Lionel Messi lost his cool last Thursday. During the match against the Philadelphia Union (2-2), he slapped an opponent, as TV footage showed.He had clashed with forward Quinn Sullivan, bu...
Lionel Messi has been fined by Major League Soccer for slapping an opponent during a match against the Philadelphia Union. The incident occurred during their 2-2 draw on August 19, when Messi slapped Quinn Sullivan on the back of the head after Sullivan had elbowed him. According to the Associated Press, Messi's action was a violation of the league's policy regarding hands to the face, head, or neck of an opponent.
The fine amount was not disclosed by the league. Messi was not the only player to be fined for an incident involving Sullivan; Inter Miami's Ian Fray was also fined for grabbing Sullivan's neck during a separate fracas. The match ended with two red cards, given to Miami's Yannick Bright and Sullivan's brother Cavan, but Cavan's one-game suspension was later rescinded by the league's Independent Review Panel.
Messi had scored one goal and provided an assist in the game, marking his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi. Inter Miami currently sits second in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind leaders Nashville.
Brief written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports, Malay Mail, Adom Online, Associated Press, Daily Post Nigeria — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
