Major League Soccer has fined Inter Miami players Lionel Messi and Ian Fray undisclosed amounts for making contact in the head and neck area of opponents. The penalties result from separate incidents that occurred during second-half stoppage time in a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia.
Messi was fined after slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck as the two exchanged words. In the same match, Messi recorded an assist and scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
The second incident involved Ian Fray, who grabbed Sullivan's neck after the two became tangled while Sullivan was dribbling into the penalty area. Following the contact, Sullivan jumped up and tackled Fray.
In separate disciplinary action, Minnesota United FC defender Anthony Markanich was fined for embellishment during the second half of a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United on Wednesday.