Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee fined Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez "an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy" following Saturday's 2-2 draw with New York City FC.
Messi was fined after grabbing the back of the neck of New York City Assistant Coach Mehdi Ballouchy after the end of the game. You can see the incident in the official video released by MLS below.
MLS Disciplinary Committee | Lionel Messi fined
Courtesy MLS
Suárez was fined after similarly grabbing the neck of New York City center-back Birk Risa after the end of the first half. The official video posted by MLS shows Suárez confronting Risa, then reaching around with his left hand to grab the defender by the back of the neck.
What would normally be a couple of minor if troubling intramural incidents that wouldn't make headlines outside of MLS are international news because of Messi's profile. The World Champion's postgame behavior became the major talking point of the league's opening day, eclipsing the scorelines and highlights of Matchday 1.
Noah Kassell-Yung
Yesterday, Hudson River Blue Executive Editor Andrew Leigh posted a story wondering if the Disciplinary Committee would fine Messi. At the time, it seemed unlikely that "the league claws back any of the over $20 million owed to Messi in 2025 compensation for this out-of-character postmatch incident."
Many pundits agreed. Over on ESPN, former United States Men's National Team forward Herculez Gomez speculated that MLS would let the incident pass. "You can ill-afford if you're Major League Soccer to have these images circulating around the world. But let's be honest, they're not going to do a damn thing about this," Gomez said. "Nothing is going to happen to Messi."
ESPN FC |Will Messi be punished by MLS?
So much for that. The Disciplinary Committee took action against Messi possibly because of the international spotlight: If MLS are to be taken seriously, the league need to let the world know that no player is above a rule as serious as "the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy." Further, the committee combed through the game tape and found Suárez grabbing Risa, a confrontation that completely escaped notice by soccer pundits.
As many noted, it's one thing to get physical during a game, and have an emotional response to a run of play, but it's another to seek out your opponents and grab them by the neck after the whistle sounds.
It looks like the league will claw back some of Messi's $20 million salary after all.
