Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Ian Fray have been fined by Major League Soccer following separate incidents during the club’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union.
MLS confirmed on Friday that Messi was sanctioned after slapping Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan on the head during an exchange between the pair. The Argentine, who scored once and provided an assist in the match, was involved in the incident on Wednesday night.
Fray was also fined after making contact with an opponent’s neck during the encounter. The league did not disclose the amounts of either penalty.
The match ended in further controversy, with Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan sent off in stoppage time following an off-the-ball altercation.
However, MLS later overturned Cavan Sullivan’s red card and one-match suspension after its Independent Review Panel unanimously voted to rescind the sanction.
