Messi fined after altercation with coach Mehdi Ballouchy

Wednesday 26 February 2025 - 17:04

The Major League Soccer (MLS) imposed a significant fine on Argentine star Lionel Messi following an altercation with New York City FC's assistant coach, Moroccan Mehdi Ballouchy, after last Saturday’s match.

Videos circulating on social media show Messi engaged in a heated exchange with Ballouchy following the final whistle of the 2-2 draw. In the footage, Messi can be seen placing his hands twice on Ballouchy's neck, an action that goes against the MLS's policy prohibiting physical contact with an opponent’s face, head, or neck. In a similar incident, Messi's teammate Luis Suárez had previously been fined for grabbing the neck of New York City defender Birk Risa during halftime.

Although Messi did not score during the match, he provided an assist to his Venezuelan teammate Telasco Segovia, who equalized in added time. The match took place at the Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami, marking the opening game of the season.

Qualification for Concacaf Champions League Round of 16
Inter Miami also secured a spot in the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions League after a 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City in the second leg, having previously won the first leg 1-0 with Messi scoring his first goal of the year. In the next round, Inter Miami will face Jamaican champions Cavalier SC, with the first match scheduled in Florida in the first week of March.