Lionel Messi has received an unknown amount by Major League Soccer after having the neck of an assistant coach of New York City at the end of Saturday's game between the parties.
The World Cup winner was caught on the camera in a confrontation with NYC FC Assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy after the last whistle. Messi put his hands on the back of Ballouchy's neck during the arguments. MLS said in a statement that their disciplinary committee had ruled that the Argentinian had violated the 'hands of the competition' to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy '.
Before the confrontation with Ballouchy, Messi seemed furious with referee Alexis da Silva, after the last whistle and received a yellow card for deviating opinions on his way back the tunnel.
Messi had just set up a stop-time Equalizer for teammate Telasco Segovia in the 2-2 draw in the Chase Stadium of Inter Miami. Earlier in the match, Miami defender Tomás Avilés received a red card for refusing a goalscores chance, NYC FC down Alonso Martinez down from behind when he was the goalkeeper. Avilés scored Miami's first goal from another Messi assistant earlier in the game.
Messi's teammate Luis Suárez also received a similar fine for placing his hands on the neck of NYC FC defender Birk Risa during the break.
The fine remains a remarkable week for Messi and referees in the United States. Earlier in the week, the referee who was responsible for the Concacaf Champions League opener of Inter Miami against Sporting KC was disciplined by the Confederation after he had asked for the Argentinian shirt after the game. Messi scored the winning goal in that match, a 1-0 win that was played in icy, a few digit temperatures in Kansas City.
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