Mass Penalties Handed Down After Columbus Clash
Major League Soccer fined Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González and five players following a mass confrontation during a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew on Sept. 27, 2026.
Inside the Disciplinary Committee Rulings
The MLS Disciplinary Committee ruled that Inter Miami violated the league’s mass confrontation policy during the first half of the match. The infractions resulted in undisclosed financial penalties for the club and head coach Cristian “Kily” González, alongside five specific players: Sergio Reguilón, Micael, Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul, and Daniel Pinter.
League officials confirmed that the violations stemmed from players inciting or escalating the heated exchange in the 26th minute. However, the MLS opted against issuing suspensions, ensuring that none of the disciplined players face automatic multi-game absences moving forward.
Video Review Sparks Escalating Tensions
The confrontation in the 26th minute preceded a critical turning point just two minutes later. Following a video review, match officials awarded the Columbus Crew a penalty kick. Inter Miami star Lionel Messi led teammates in protesting the referee’s decision, which resulted in a yellow card for midfielder Casemiro.
The match grew increasingly physical in front of a sellout crowd in Columbus. Officials issued six yellow cards to Inter Miami players and four to the Crew. Late in the contest, Miami’s Santiago Morales received two bookings in the span of four minutes, culminating in a red card in the 96th minute.
Late Stoppage-Time Winner Secures Columbus Victory
Despite the disciplinary fallout, the match featured intense offensive plays from both sides. Columbus Crew striker Jamal Thiaré secured the victory by scoring the game-winning goal in the 98th minute of stoppage time. Earlier in the match, Lionel Messi answered the Crew’s penalty conversion with a free-kick goal in the 33rd minute to tie the score.
Eastern Conference Standings After the Final Whistle
The result leaves Inter Miami in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 46 points. The Columbus Crew sit in 12th place in the conference with 29 points following the home victory.
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