The American Football League (MLS) applied on Tuesday (25) a fine to Inter Miami Argentine star Lionel Messi for squeezing the neck of the New York City FC assistant after the 2-2 draw between them Teams last weekend.
However, MLS did not report the amount of the fine, as usual in these cases.
The punishment was applied because Messi “violated the league’s policy about putting his hands on an opponent’s face/head/neck at the end of the Inter Miami game against the New York City FC,” MLS explained in his monthly decision -making report Disciplinary Committee.
The incident took place at the end of Inter’s first season game in Fort Lauderdale, which ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a goal in the additions of Telasco Segovia, with Messi’s pass, who after the final whistle was furious to referee Alexis Da Silva to complain about some of his decisions.
After receiving a yellow card from the referee, the Argentine star walked towards Chase Stadium’s locker rooms when Mehdi Ballouchy, one of New York City’s technical assistants, made him comment.
A video shows how Messi and Ballouchy talked for a few seconds. The Argentine took a few more steps to the locker room, but in an unusual scene, he returned to the assistant to tighten his neck.
Ballouchy turned scared and Messi made him another gesture with his hand as he left the field.
Miami team coach Javier Mascherano minimized the incident at a news conference on Monday.
“Sometimes it’s hard to control emotions in the field,” Mascherano said. “I think the press sometimes wants to create a circus with this. In any game you can argue with the referee and the opposing players.”
