Actions have consequences, even if you are Lionel Messi. Messi got into an altercation with a Philadelphia player, and the Argentine star hit the opponent on the head. And the MLS has decided to hold Messi accountable for this. But the question for many fans is: why haven’t other cases like this been given the same punishment?
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“Bellingham was never fined for slapping Valentin Barco,” wrote a fan on X, talking about a similar incident that happened after Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal.
Lionel Messi’s clash with Quinn Sullivan has now left him facing punishment from the MLS committee. During Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union, the pair exchanged words deep into stoppage time. As Sullivan walked past, Messi appeared to slap the back of his neck.
Sullivan quickly turned towards Messi, and players stepped in before things got out of hand. Neither player was booked at that point in time, but MLS decided that the incident still deserved punishment.
The league fined Messi an undisclosed amount for violating the head and neck contact policy. Miami defender Ian Fray also received a fine separately for grabbing Sullivan around the neck. Messi avoided suspension, but MLS made clear that his actions would not go unanswered.
That decision came after Messi scored and assisted during an emotional night for Miami. It was also his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, so a lot of emotions were running on it.
But once MLS made its decision, fans quickly began looking beyond Philadelphia for comparisons.
During England’s World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina, Jude Bellingham appeared to slap Valentín Barco on the head after the game. Barco immediately turned and went after Bellingham, but players from both sides got in between. FIFA was asked for comment, but there was no comment or action on this incident, and it died down quickly.
This punishment to Messi has raised questions about how similar actions are not getting the same end result or anything close.
There have been other confrontations too, including Bellingham’s heated clash with a player in the Spanish Super Cup. Of course, every incident has a very different context and how it actually played out, and each of these clashes has happened in different leagues.
But Messi’s case stands out because MLS publicly reviewed and punished the incident. That does not prove other players were wrongly spared or that MLS acted unfairly. But it explains why fans are asking whether similar actions are even being judged at the same level or not.
Fans are not happy with the decision of MLS to fine Lionel Messi
Messi was not the only Argentine player sanctioned. FIFA handed Leandro Paredes a 10-match international suspension and a $90,000 fine for his role in the post-match brawl following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Paredes was reported to have grabbed Spain defender Eric García by the throat, taken Gavi to the ground and appeared to strike him.
“Man, FIFA hands out harsh sanctions for the Argentines and for Bellingham, who slapped Barco, not a peep,” wrote a fan. And another fan backed this and said, “Shouldn’t Bellingham be sanctioned for this @FIFAcom?”
In that video it clearly showed Bellingham slapping Valentin Barco after the Argentine went to celebrate with his teammates on the field. But another fan clearly laid out how differently some of the players treat others.
“The kind of things Argentine players have been banned and fined for, Real Madrid players like Rudiger, Bellingham, and Vinicius do every other week. Somehow, there are never any consequences,” said a fan.
He added, “The double standards are unreal.”
The comment reflects fans’ frustration over past confrontations involving Real Madrid players, although each case has its own context and disciplinary process. One example came in January 2025, when Jude Bellingham appeared to slap or pat Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo on the back of the neck during Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup semifinal win. Maffeo reacted, and players from both teams became involved in a brief confrontation.
This sparked a huge clash between the teams. Another flashpoint came in the 2025 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, when Antonio Rüdiger was sent off after throwing an object, widely reported as an ice pack or ice, toward referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea from the technical area. The object did not hit the referee, but Rüdiger was later given a six-match suspension by the Spanish federation.
That is what is making fans question if this really was a fair call on Messi or not.
