Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fined for neck grab as referee receives six-month ban for autograph request
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi receives a fine for an apparent neck grab, while a referee is given a six-month ban for asking the Argentine for an autograph.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has experienced a dramatic start to the 2025 season after he was fined for a neck grab and a referee was banned following a request for the Argentine’s signature.
Messi has been punished for an incident with New York City FC’s assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy following Saturday’s clash at Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami played the majority of their MLS opener with 10 men after Tomas Aviles was dismissed in the 23rd minute, not long after he had opened the scoring.
NYCFC scored two goals to turn the game in their favour, before Messi provided an assist for Telasco Segovia to score an equaliser in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Messi was involved in an exchange of words with the referee Alexis Da Silva after the game, and as he started to make his way off the pitch, he was seen on camera in a confrontation with Ballouchy, putting his right hand on the back of the coach’s neck.
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MLS confirm Messi fine
MLS released a statement on Tuesday to announce that a disciplinary committee has punished Messi with an ‘undisclosed’ fine for the incident.
The statement read: “The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy following the conclusion of Inter Miami’s match against New York City FC on February 22.”
The same committee also confirmed that Messi’s Inter Miami teammate, Luis Suarez, has also been fined for an incident at half time of the MLS clash.
In a similar incident to Messi’s, Suarez grabbed the neck of Chicago Fire defender Birk Risa following the half-time whistle.
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Referee receives ban for Messi autograph request
Messi was involved in another incident in the first leg of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup clash against Sporting Kansas City on February 19.
Referee Ortiz Nava asked Messi at the final whistle of the 1-0 win if he could have an autograph for a family member with special needs.
In a subsequent statement, CONCACAF said that the referee’s behaviour “does not align with the Confederation’s Code of Conduct for match officials.”
The statement added that Nava “has acknowledged his mistake, apologised for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary action CONCACAF has applied.”
According to ESPN, Nava has been suspended for six months by CONCACAF, although he is still permitted to officiate in his domestic league, Liga MX.
Inter Miami subsequently prevailed in the second leg of their Champions Cup tie, with Messi and Suarez getting on the scoresheet in a 3-1 home victory on Tuesday evening.
As a result of the 4-1 aggregate win, Javier Mascherano’s side have set up a last-16 tie with Jamaican side Cavalier.
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