A fine, but no ban
The MLS disciplinary committee handed down its ruling a few hours ago. Lionel Messi has been fined for his contact with Quinn Sullivan. The amount was not disclosed. He stays available for Inter Miami.
The incident came Wednesday, during Inter Miami’s trip to Philadelphia, a game that finished 2-2. In the closing stages of a bad-tempered night, Messi moved toward Sullivan and struck him in the face. The referee saw nothing. No on-field punishment followed.
Other players were sent off after another flashpoint in stoppage time. The committee went back over the footage afterwards to punish the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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Sullivan, 22, in the spotlight
Quinn Sullivan is 22. The Philadelphia Union forward is a United States international. He did not react at the time.
The clip has been doing the rounds on social media since Thursday. The images show Messi hitting the back of his opponent’s head, out of the referee’s sight. That video was the basis for the committee’s decision.
MLS opted for a financial penalty rather than a suspension. Messi can play in Inter Miami’s next match.
Miami slipping away in the East
The sporting backdrop is not helping. Inter Miami have now gone four matches without a win. The Florida club trail Nashville, the Eastern Conference leaders, by seven points.
Messi had at least found the net again in recent days. It still wasn’t enough to spark a side that keeps churning out draws and defeats at exactly the wrong time of the season. The playoff race is tightening, and Miami are falling behind week by week.
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