MLS fines Messi and Fray after a 2-2 stoppage-time scrap

Major League Soccer fined Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and defender Ian Fray undisclosed amounts on Friday, Aug. 21, for separate incidents in second-half stoppage time of a 2-2 draw with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. The Associated Press said both were punished for making contact with the head and neck area of opponents. Dollar figures were not released. Neither the AP nor AFP reported a suspension.

AFP said the disciplinary committee cited a violation of “the league’s policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent.” That is the rule, not a red-card count. The referee on the field did not treat Messi’s exchange as a sending-off.

The AP said Messi slapped Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck as the two exchanged words late Wednesday. AFP placed it in stoppage time: Messi walked to the center circle to confront Sullivan while the ball was in play elsewhere, took a swipe after a brief exchange, and Sullivan squared up. Referee Filip Dujic had his back turned, AFP said, then separated them without a card for either man.

Sullivan also figured in Fray’s fine, the AP said. After Sullivan lost his footing dribbling into the penalty area, he got tangled with Fray, who grabbed his neck. Sullivan jumped up and tackled Fray. Those are two incidents, one opponent, two Miami players.

AFP said Dujic did send off Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan, Quinn’s younger brother, and Miami midfielder Yannick Bright after a stoppage-time scuffle in Miami’s box. Front Row Soccer, posting the committee slate, timed Messi’s and Fray’s fouls in the 101st minute of the Aug. 19 match.

The AP noted Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, and added an assist in the same game. That is match context from the AP, not a finding of the disciplinary committee, and it is not a political point.

MLS also fined Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich for embellishment in a 2-1 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday, the AP said. Do not invent amounts for any of these fines.

Also: [AFP / France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260821-mls-fines-messi-for-striking-an-opponent) and [Fox Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messi-ian-fray-fined-slapping-philadelphia-union-players).