Official: MLS Punish Messi For Grabbing Coach's Neck

Lionel Messi has been officially punished by Major League Soccer for grabbing the neck of a coach this past weekend.

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The record Ballon d'Or winner has been handed a fine of an undisclosed amount for grabbing New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy by the neck following their 2-2 draw.

The Argentine icon helped his team salvage a point from the opening matchday of the new MLS season when he assisted a 100th-minute stoppage-time equaliser from Telasco Segovia.

The Herons played most of the encounter with 10 men after Tomás Avilés was sent off in the 23rd minute, 18 minutes after opening the scoring. New York City FC eventually took the lead through goals from Mitja Ilenic and Alonso Martínez, but Messi was on hand to assist a late equaliser.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain had a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva after the match, and as he began walking off the pitch, cameras captured him in a confrontation with Ballouchy, placing his right hand on the back of the coach's neck. It is for this that the diminutive attacker has been punished.

The league has subsequently released a statement confirming the punishment for the 37-year-old.

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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."

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