Inter Miami drew 2–2 with Philadelphia Union in an MLS clash on Thursday. In stoppage time of the second half, Messi became involved in a heated exchange with Sullivan and put his hand on the back of the young forward’s neck. MLS later fined Messi an undisclosed amount for the incident.
Sullivan had earlier been involved in another altercation with Inter Miami defender Ian Fray. After Sullivan lost his balance and fell while dribbling inside the penalty area, he and Fray became entangled. Fray eventually grabbed Sullivan by the neck, prompting Sullivan to get back to his feet and challenge him.
The drama did not end there. During a confrontation off the field in stoppage time, Miami’s Yannick Bright and Sullivan’s brother, Cavan Sullivan, were both shown red cards.
However, Cavan Sullivan’s red card and one-match suspension have since been overturned by the league. An independent review panel unanimously decided to rescind his punishment. Fray, meanwhile, was fined for his role in the incident.
The match was a particularly emotional one for Messi. He scored for the first time since the death of his father and also played a key role in Inter Miami’s opening goal. Despite Messi’s contribution, however, Inter Miami had to settle for a 2–2 draw.
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