Lionel Messi’s bodyguard Yassine Cheuko apparently took his job a little too seriously at the Leagues Cup.
After a postgame confrontation in which Cheuko ran onto the field to push some Atlas players away from the Inter Miami star, the League Cup disciplinary committee announced it was banning him from all technical areas for the rest of the tournament, which runs through Aug. 31, and fining Inter Miami an undisclosed amount of money.
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The full statement:
After the July 30 Inter Miami CF vs. Club Atlas match, a member of Inter Miami’s club delegation displayed improper conduct by entering restricted areas without an official event credential. In accordance with the Leagues Cup 2025 Tournament Regulations, the Disciplinary Committee has suspended the individual involved from all technical areas for the remainder of Leagues Cup 2025 and issued an undisclosed fine to Inter Miami CF.
ESPN identified the member of Inter Miami’s delegation as Cheuko.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Atlas. Several players congregated at midfield, with Cheuko entering the fray to physically break up the confrontation. He is the bald man with a short beard and black Miami T-shirt in the video below.
Atlas players were not happy about Cheuko’s intervention, with defender Matheus Doria calling for the rules to be applied in this case via ESPN:
“We already know that our board works very well and will take care of the issue. I understand that Messi’s bodyguard is there to protect Messi from a possible entry by a fan, I don’t know, but between players, he doesn’t have that permission,” said Doria.
“It’s not up to us to say much or give our opinion on the matter, but the board and those in charge of the Leagues Cup have already seen it and will take charge of what can and can’t be done because as long as it protects not only Messi but the other players, and the physical integrity of the players who are there, that’s fine. But if it’s for other issues, no one will agree, but it’s not up to me to do anything.”
Cheuko has been a fixture at Messi’s side since his days at Paris Saint-Germain. Contrary to past reports, he is not a former Navy SEAL or professional MMA fighter, but he has entered the field in the past to protect the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In April, Inter Miami banned Cheuko from being on the sidelines during MLS matches, though he remains an employee of the team.
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