Messi fined as Bangladesh-heritage Sullivan wins appeal 

Lionel Messi and Bangladesh-heritage teenager Cavan Sullivan found themselves at opposite ends of Major League Soccer's disciplinary process after a fiery 2-2 draw between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union recently.

Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount for violating MLS policy concerning contact with an opponent's face, head or neck. However, Sullivan received a major reprieve after his one-match suspension and accompanying fine were completely rescinded following an appeal.

The contrasting decisions came after Wednesday's tempestuous contest at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, where tempers boiled over deep into second-half stoppage time.

In the 101st minute, Messi became involved in an off-the-ball confrontation with Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan and was later sanctioned by the MLS Disciplinary Committee. Inter Miami defender Ian Fray was also fined for a similar violation.

A minute later, the match descended further into chaos. Miami midfielder Yannick Bright and 16-year-old Philadelphia defender Cavan Sullivan were both shown red cards following a confrontation.

Yet the final whistle was not the final word.

Philadelphia appealed Cavan Sullivan's suspension, and the Independent Review Panel unanimously ruled in the youngster's favour. The panel, comprising representatives from U.S. Soccer, Canada Soccer and an independent nominee of the Professional Referee Organization, overturned both the one-match ban and fine.

The decision means Sullivan, whose family has Bangladeshi roots, is immediately eligible to return and can feature in Philadelphia Union's next MLS match against Austin FC on Saturday.

Thus, from the same storm came two different verdicts where Messi escaped the referee's card but could not avoid retrospective punishment while Sullivan's red-card punishment was erased after review. In football, as in life, the first whistle does not always write the final chapter.