The committee stated, "After the match, a member of the Miami delegation engaged in improper conduct by entering a restricted area. According to regulations, we have suspended the individual in question from all technical areas for the remainder of the tournament and fined Inter Miami."

According to ESPN, the individual referred to is Yassine Cheuko, Messi's personal bodyguard.

Cheuko (in black) clashes with an Atlas player after Inter Miami's 2-1 victory on 31/7. Photo: X

The incident occurred when Cheuko entered the field after the 31/7 match to prevent an altercation between players from both teams. He then clashed with several Atlas players.

Atlas defender Matheus Doria emphasized that Cheuko was not permitted on the field and supported the Disciplinary Committee's decision. "I understand the bodyguard is there to protect Messi from the risk of being approached by some fans, but among the players, he is not allowed to do that," Doria said. "Those in charge of the Leagues Cup have seen the situation clearly and will decide what can and cannot be done. That protects not only Messi but also the other players."

Cheuko had previously been banned from the field for several MLS matches by Inter Miami. However, he remains a member of the club's security team. Cheuko has been protecting Messi and his family since July 2023 when the Argentinian forward joined Inter Miami.

Cheuko (right) blocking a fan from approaching Messi. Photo: AP

During the match on 31/7, Messi assisted on both goals in Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Atlas. A dispute arose after Marcelo Weigandt's winning goal in the 96th minute. Inter Miami has two remaining group stage matches in the Leagues Cup: against Necaxa on 3/8 and Unam on 7/8.

The Leagues Cup is the tournament where Messi brought Inter Miami its first title in August 2023. Last year, they were eliminated in the round of 16.

Thanh Quy (according to ESPN)