Major League Soccer has fined Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount for placing his hand on the neck of a New York City FC assistant coach.

The incident happened during the teams' 2-2 draw on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Messi was exiting the pitch following the full-time whistle after receiving a yellow card for a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva.

The reigning league MVP had some words with New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and covered his mouth as two Miami assistants intervened.

Messi started to walk away, then turned back towards Ballouchy. He put his right hand on the back of Ballouchy's neck and squeezed hard enough that it appeared to stun him.

The league also fined Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez an undisclosed amount for violating the "hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent" policy in a separate incident in that match.

Suarez grabbed New York defender Birk Risa by the back of the neck during a skirmish following the halftime whistle.