Slapped an opponent! How MLS will punish Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi will not face a suspension, but Major League Soccer has fined him after video showed he slapped an opponent during last Thursday’s match against the Philadelphia Union, which finished 2-2. The incident came in the context of a clash with forward Quinn Sullivan, and officials said at the time there were no immediate consequences. MLS later confirmed it imposed a penalty, without disclosing the fine amount. In its statement, the league said the slap “violated league guidelines regarding contact with an opponent's face, head, or neck.”