Messi's-Moment-

MLS fines Lionel Messi for grabbing NYCFC assistant coach’s neck

 

On February 25, 2025, Lionel Messi was fined an undisclosed amount by the Major League Soccer (MLS) for violating the league’s “hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent” rule. The incident took place during the season-opening match between Inter Miami CF and New York City FC on Saturday, and the disciplinary action was announced by the league on Tuesday.
 
Messi has reacted to NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballounchy’s neck injury, even though it left him frustrated because of the referee. This incident occurred after Messi assisted a stoppage-time equalizer for his teammate Telasco Segovia in the 2-2 draw at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium.
 
“In football, you have to understand the players and the emotions in the game. What happened on the pitch stays on the pitch. I think the press sometimes wants 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. And we forget we are looking forward to the next game,” Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami coach, shared and downplayed the controversy, mentioning, “the emotions run high on the pitch, and it’s difficult sometimes to control the emotions.”

Miami now leads 1-0 and secures their first win after Messi’s goal in the first leg. The team will also host Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round tie at 2-2 on Tuesday night. For the second match of MLS of the 2025 season, the team will travel to Texas to play against Houston Dynamo FC following their Championship Cup clash.

During the season-opening match, Suárez was also fined for placing hands on Birk Risa of NYCFC in a halftime heated exchange. Strahinja Tanasijević intervened to stop the argument.