Lionel Messi fined for striking opponent in Inter Miami MLS game

What the report says

Major League Soccer’s Disciplinary Committee has fined Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount after ruling that he violated the league’s policy on hands to the face, head or neck of an opponent. Al Jazeera, citing MLS, reported that the incident took place in the 101st minute of Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday.

The league also fined Inter Miami defender Ian Fray for the same type of violation in the same match. The game ended with tempers rising in stoppage time, when Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan were sent off.

According to the report, Sullivan’s one-game suspension and fine were later overturned after an independent review panel unanimously sided with Philadelphia’s appeal. He is now eligible to play in the Union’s next match at Austin FC. MLS also announced separate fines for Toronto FC’s Walker Zimmerman and Minnesota United’s Anthony Markanich in other Wednesday matches.

The case matters because Messi is one of the league’s highest-profile players, and disciplinary rulings involving him draw attention beyond a single match. More broadly, the episode highlights how MLS reviews on-field conduct and uses appeals to reconsider red-card decisions when clubs challenge them.