Lionel Messi has been banned for directing ‘directed insulting words at an assistant referee’ in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile last Thursday.
The ban only applies to Argentina’s World Cup qualifying matches
The Barcelona forward has also been fined £8,100 for his actions
Lionel Messi has been banned for four of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers after a foul mouthed rant at a linesman during his side’s 1-0 win over Chile on Thursday.
Messi discovered his fate only six hours before kick-off in Argentina’s crucial qualifier away to Bolivia in La Paz on Tuesday. He has also been fined £8,100.
Messi said ‘f*** off, your mother’s ****’ to linesman Michael van Gasse. Messi had earlier scored the decisive penalty to hand Argentina a crucial three points and revive their World Cup qualifying campaign.