Lionel Messi, the 37-year-old Argentine star, found himself in hot water following a heated incident during Inter Miami's season opener against New York City FC on Saturday. After the final whistle blew on the 2-2 draw at Inter Miami's Chase Stadium, Messi grabbed the neck of New York City assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy. This action violated Major League Soccer's (MLS) "hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy," leading to an undisclosed fine for Messi.
The incident was not isolated. Luis Suarez, Messi's Uruguayan teammate, also received a fine for his conduct during halftime. Suarez placed his hands on the back of NYFC defender Birk Risa's neck, adding fuel to the fiery encounter. The match itself was intense, with Messi playing a pivotal role by setting up a stoppage-time equalizer for his teammate Telasco Segovia.
Inter Miami's clash with NYCFC marked the beginning of their season. The team is set to host Cavalier FC on March 6 at Chase Stadium, before traveling to Kingston, Jamaica, for the second leg at Stadium East Field on March 13. Following the draw with NYCFC, Inter Miami bounced back with a significant victory over Sporting Kansas City. Messi contributed to the win by scoring, helping his team progress in the tournament with a convincing 4-1 aggregate score.
The MLS issued a statement addressing Messi's actions, underscoring the league's commitment to maintaining discipline and respect among players and coaches. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining sportsmanship in high-stakes, competitive environments.
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