{
  "id": 2451067,
  "title": "MLS fines Messi for striking an opponent",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mls-fines-messi-for-striking-an-opponent-2451067",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T22:42:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/08/22/mls-fines-messi-for-striking-an-opponent"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar of Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, has been fined an undisclosed amount by the league for striking a Philadelphia Union player. The incident occurred during a 2-2 draw between the two teams on Wednesday. Reports indicate that Messi slapped Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck in the center circle, violating the league's policy against hands to the face, head, or neck of an opponent. The league's disciplinary committee decided to impose the fine, though the exact amount remained undisclosed. The altercation took place late in stoppage time of a heated match. After a brief exchange, Messi confronted Sullivan, leading to a fight-style stare-down. Referee Filip Dujic, who was initially unaware of the incident, arrived to separate the players. However, Dujic did not issue any cards to Messi or Sullivan. The disciplinary action extended to Miami's Italian midfielder Yannick Bright, who was also fined for engaging in a stoppage-time scuffle with Quinn Sullivan's brother and teammate, Cavan Sullivan, in Miami's penalty area.",
  "summary": "Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is fined for slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck during the clubs' 2-2 draw on Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "MLS fines Messi for striking an opponent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mls-fines-messi-for-striking-an-opponent-2449643",
        "published": "2026-08-21T22:42:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "MLS fines Messi for striking an opponent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mls-fines-messi-for-striking-an-opponent-2456423",
        "published": "2026-08-21T23:30:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}