Lionel Messi fined by MLS for slapping Quinn Sullivan
Major League Soccer has fined Lionel Messi for an incident involving physical contact with an opponent during a match against the Philadelphia Union. The league also rescinded a red card previously issued to 16-year-old player Cavan Sullivan during the same altercation.
Why it matters
As the highest-profile athlete in MLS, disciplinary actions against Messi draw significant attention to league officiating and player conduct standards.
Hear this story Lionel Messi has been fined for putting his hands on an opponent, Major League Soccer announced on Friday, Aug. 21.
The league said that the Argentinian superstar was fined an undisclosed amount for slapping Philadelphia Union player Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw with the club on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
MLS has a rule that a player cannot put his "hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent."
Messi's teammate, Ian Fray, was also fined for the same violation in what was a chippy final few minutes of Wednesday's match.
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