MLS has handed down a fresh wave of punishments following a chaotic and combustible clash between Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount after getting his hands in the face or neck area of an opposing player, the league announced Friday.
Messi’s teammate Ian Fray has also been penalized by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for the same violation during the heated contest.
The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, saw Messi strike Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head, sparking a heated forehead-to-forehead confrontation between the pair.
The most dramatic flashpoint came in the 12th minute of second-half stoppage time, when a chippy collision involving Quinn Sullivan set off a chain of events that spiraled quickly out of control.
Fray appeared to grab at Quinn Sullivan’s head as he stepped over him, before standing over the grounded player, prompting Quinn to body flip Fray in what resembled a wrestling move and triggering a broader melee.
The wider brawl that followed ultimately led to red cards for Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan in the closing stages of the match.
Despite their involvement in separate aggressive incidents, both Messi and Fray avoided cards on the night but were later sanctioned following a thorough league investigation.
Inter Miami will have both Lionel Messi and Ian Fray available for selection when they face Toronto FC on Saturday, though both players will be feeling the financial consequences of their actions.
In a significant development for the Union, MLS confirmed that Cavan Sullivan’s red card from the 102nd minute has been officially rescinded after a successful appeal.
The Independent Review Panel, consisting of one representative from U.S. Soccer, one representative from Canada Soccer, and one independent representative nominated by the Professional Referee Organization, unanimously voted in Sullivan’s favor.
Sullivan is now eligible to feature for Philadelphia in their Saturday fixture away at Austin FC, giving the Union a welcome boost ahead of a crucial match.
Philadelphia still retains both of their two permitted unsuccessful appeals for the 2026 season, meaning their successful challenge has not cost them any appeal credits.
Earlier in the match, Messi had buried a goal in the 26th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-1 advantage, before Neil Pierre’s second-half strike hauled the Union level.
In a separate matter, Minnesota United FC defender Anthony Markanich was also fined for embellishment during his side’s Wednesday clash against Atlanta United.
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