NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi was fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer (MLS) after the Inter Miami captain was seen grabbing the neck of a support staff member of the New York City during Saturday’s clash.
The incident occurred after the final whistle during a 2-2 draw between the sides at the Chase Stadium. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Messi was seen making contact with NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy by grabbing the scruff of his neck twice. A visibly shocked Ballouchy did not retaliate as Messi left the field. Messi’s confrontation took place shortly after an argument with the referee which had already earned him a yellow card for dissent.
The MLS, in a statement, confirmed that its disciplinary committee had ruled Messi had breached the league’s “Hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent” policy.
The Inter Miami captain has been fined an undisclosed amount by MLS for “violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy” after the 2-2 draw vs New York City FC.
Meanwhile, Messi’s teammate Luis Suarez was also fined for making contact with NYCFC’s Birk Risa during a heated exchange after the first half. Suárez placed his hand on Risa’s neck during an argument before NYCFC’s Strahinja Tanasijević’s intervention.
“It’s difficult sometimes to control emotions. In football, you have to understand the players and the emotions of the game. What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said downplaying the controversy.
Despite the fines, both Messi and Suárez featured in Inter Miami’s clash against Kansas City on Tuesday and found themselves on the scoresheet as Miami sealed the second leg with a 4-1 aggregate in the first-round tie of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Agencies