Major League Soccer put its foot down and showed that no one is above the rules as Lionel Messi and superstar teammate Luis Suárez were both hit with fines after week 1 of the new season.
Suárez and Messi fined by MLS
The attacking pair were fined an undisclosed amount for violating the league’s “hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent” rule.
After the final whistle Messi received a yellow card for dissent when he argued with the referee about decisions during the game. The Argentine then walked over to NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and grabbed the back of his neck.
Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has been handed a fine by Major League Soccer (MLS) for his altercation with a New York City assistant coach. The incident occurred at the end of Saturday's match, where Messi was seen grabbing the coach's neck. pic.twitter.com/5XuAEngMml
— All Sportz ⚽ (@Allsportztv) February 26, 2025
Lionel Messi Gets Fined!
The Inter Miami captain has been fined an undisclosed amount by MLS for “violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy” after the 2-2 draw vs New York City FC.NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy not fined.#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/7PMzH0gsog
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) February 25, 2025
Ballouchy didn’t retaliate, however the league deemed that Messi’s actions were worthy of a fine. Not even the league’s biggest star is above the law.
Suárez’s violation of the rules came at the end of the first half when he grabbed the neck of NYCFC defender Birk Risa.
Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has been fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the "hands to the neck of an opponent" policy.
Suárez grabbed the back of NYCFC defender Birk Risa’s neck during a heated exchange at halftime of Miami’s… pic.twitter.com/vw7LSwO4f5— MLS ELIOTT (@MLSELI) February 25, 2025
Neither player will receive a suspension and will be eligible to play in Inter Miami’s next game on Sunday against the Houston Dynamo.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano was asked about the situation and defended his players in the heat of the battle.
“In football, to understand the players and the emotions of the player, you have to be inside on the pitch, and to see from afar, it's difficult,” Mascherano said.
"It's difficult sometimes to control the emotions. I think the press sometimes want to create a circus about it. And that happens in every game that you can discuss with the referee, with some opposing players. It's like this. It's important, what we say in Argentina, what we say, the things that happen on the pitch stay on the pitch.”
