Lionel Messi has been handed an undisclosed fine by Major League Soccer after becoming involved in an off-the-ball confrontation with Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan.
The punishment comes after an independent review panel unanimously overturned the stoppage-time red card issued to 16-year-old Manchester City recruit Cavan Sullivan during the heated 2-2 draw.
- Watch: What Man Utd fans at Hull did after full-time speaks volumes after 2-0 defeat
- VIDEO: Gabriel grabs Khusanov by the neck then goes down in viral Community Shield moment
According to The Athletic, MLS fined Messi for breaching the league’s rules concerning contact with an opponent’s face, head, or neck.
The incident occurred in the second half of Inter Miami’s 2-2 stalemate with the Union on Wednesday, with footage appearing to show the Argentine star hitting the back of Quinn’s head during a verbal confrontation.
The referee chose not to book the World Cup winner, before Yannick Bright stepped in to pull the pair apart.
Lionel Messi slapping 22-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head 😮 pic.twitter.com/E87sMnhvng
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) August 20, 2026
Tempers flared again in stoppage time as Ian Fray and Quinn became embroiled in an off-the-ball tussle, with Bright and Quinn’s younger sibling, Cavan, joining the confrontation.
The 16-year-old wonderkid – who is set to officially join City when he turns 18 in 2027 – reacted angrily after Bright made contact with his face, leading to both players being shown straight red cards.
However, an independent MLS review panel later voted unanimously to cancel Cavan’s one-game suspension and the accompanying fine.
The three-person disciplinary panel responsible for clearing Cavan consisted of representatives from U.S. Soccer, Canada Soccer, and a Professional Referee Organization (PRO) appointee.
The latest punishment is the second time Messi has been sanctioned by MLS since moving to the league in 2023, having previously received a fine in February 2025 for grabbing New York City FC assistant Mehdi Ballouchy’s neck.
Although the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner once again avoided a suspension, the incident underlines the intense competitive nature of MLS and how quickly emotions can boil over.
Inter Miami will now have to put the controversy behind them as they continue their pursuit of first place in the Eastern Conference, with the Herons sitting second after 20 matches.
Meanwhile, 13th-placed Union have received a welcome boost ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Austin FC, with Cavan now available for selection.
Maintaining their composure will be vital for Miami as they look to prevent more disciplinary issues from costing them crucial points in an increasingly tight race for the top.
