Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez FINED by MLS for grabbing opponents' neck in fiery Inter Miami showdown

The former Barcelona players violated the same rule in the same game

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have both been fined for grabbing the neck of a coach and player in Inter Miami's season opener.

The incidents took place in a pulsating 2-2 draw in the MLS with New York City FC. The Argentine had set up a stoppage - equaliser for Telasco Segovia at the Chase Stadium. The World Cup winner then confronted NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy on the pitch after the final whistle.

The two debated back and forth before the Argentine placed his hand on Ballouchy's neck. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner looked to be walking away before holding his neck again more firmly, as the two exchanged stern looks. Lionel Messi was raging about a number of decisions at full time and had a go at at referee Rosendo Mendoza before being handed a post-match yellow card.

Team-mate Luis Suarez has also been fined for violating the same MLS rule after her pinched Norwegian defender Birk Risa's neck in an incident at half-time. The MLS said in a statement that their disciplinary committee had ruled that the former Barcelona stars had violated the league’s “hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy.”

The fines for the ex Barcelona players has not been disclosed. It comes after a referee in charge of Inter Miami's Concacaf Champions League opener was disciplined after asking for Messi's shirt after their 1-0 win over Sporting KC. According to The Mail, Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava was reportedly slapped with a six-month ban after asking Messi for an autograph.