Lionel Messi has been fined by Major League Soccer for grabbing the neck of New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy during a tense post-match confrontation.
The dramatic moment unfolded after Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw at Chase Stadium, where Messi, who had just assisted a last-gasp equalizer, was caught on camera putting his hands on Ballouchy’s neck twice amid a heated exchange.
MLS confirmed the fine, stating that Messi had violated the league’s “Hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy.”
Messi wasn’t the only Miami player in trouble—his longtime teammate, Luis Suárez, also received a fine for a similar altercation with NYCFC defender Birk Risa at halftime.
Despite the controversy, Messi remains focused on leading Inter Miami through the season, but this incident has added an unexpected twist to his MLS journey.
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