Messi Fined for Slapping Philadelphia Opponent

Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer (MLS) for slapping Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck during the clubs’ 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

MLS said the Argentine violated “the league’s policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent.”

Inter Miami defender Ian Fray was also fined an undisclosed amount for the same infraction.

Messi Fined for Slapping Philadelphia Opponent(NewscentralTV) — Lionel Messi. Credit: Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Messi reportedly approached the centre circle to confront Sullivan while the ball was in play in another area of the field. The Argentine took a swipe at Sullivan, who then squared up to Messi in a fight-style stare-down.

Referee Filip Dujic intervened to separate the players but did not issue any cards.

However, Dujic sent off Cavan Sullivan, Quinn’s younger brother and teammate, as well as Miami’s Italian midfielder Yannick Bright following their scuffle in stoppage time inside Miami’s penalty area.

Author

Olayide Soaga

Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling.

She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.