The American soccer league has decided to impose a financial fine on Argentine star Lionel Messi, player of Inter Miami, after his altercation with the assistant coach of New York City following the match between the two teams last Saturday.

The match between Inter Miami and New York City witnessed a chaotic scene after the final whistle, as Messi engaged in a heated verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva, protesting his decisions, which led to him receiving a yellow card while leaving for the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms.

Cameras also captured the moment Messi assaulted Mehdi Belhoci, the assistant coach of New York City, as he placed his hands twice on the neck of the Moroccan coach during the scuffle, which the disciplinary committee considered a violation of the league's policies regarding on-field conduct.

The disciplinary committee of the American league issued an official statement confirming that Messi violated the rules concerning placing hands on the face, head, or neck of an opponent, and the amount of the fine has not been disclosed, but reports indicated that his teammate Luis Suarez faced a similar penalty after grabbing the neck of Burke Reissa, a defender for New York City, during the first half.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw after Tylasco Sigovia scored the equalizer for Inter Miami in stoppage time.