Lionel Messi has paid for his potty mouth with a four-match ban. The Barcelona striker was informed of the suspension just hours before Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday evening, a punishment that included a £8,100 fine.
The BBC says that Messi was hit with the ban for directing "insulting words" at an assistant referee in Thursday's 1-0 victory over Chile. The 29-year-old Argentina captain scored the tie's only goal but that evidently didn't do much for his temper, and he was seen losing his rag when he was flagged by the assistant Marcelo van Gasse.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to Argentine newspaper, Ole, match referee Sandro Ricci said he was unaware that Messi had insulted any official during the match and didn't mention the incident in his original report.
But according to Goal.com Messi went mad in the second half when Van Gasse ruled that he'd committed a foul, directing a foul-mouthed tirade at the official, insulting his mother. He still was still smouldering at the end of the match and refused to shake Van Gasse's hand.
After studying television footage of the confrontation, Fifa intervened on Monday and insisted that a Conmebol disciplinary panel investigate the incident. "If I had heard any offensive word, I would have acted in according the rules of the game," said Ricci, when asked why he'd overlooked the contretemps.
He did award a controversial penalty to Argentina, however, after adjudging Angel di Maria to have been pushed in the area, and Messi duly scored the spot kick.
Messi can appeal against the ban to Fifa but as it stands he will sit out the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru in the stands, presumably cursing his misfortune.
Betfair - new customer offer - bet £10 and get £10 in free bets
-
Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
-
How coupling up became cringeTalking Point For some younger women, going out with a man – or worse, marrying one – is distinctly uncool
-
The rapid-fire brilliance of Tom StoppardIn the Spotlight The 88-year-old was a playwright of dazzling wit and complex ideas
-
Five years after his death, Diego Maradona’s family demand justiceIn the Spotlight Argentine football legend’s medical team accused of negligent homicide and will stand trial – again – next year
-
Will 2026 be the Trump World Cup?In the Spotlight US president already using the world’s most popular football tournament to score political points
-
World Cup 2026: uncertainty reigns with one year to goIn the Spotlight US-hosted Fifa tournament has to navigate Trump's travel bans, logistical headaches and an exhausting expanded format
-
Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup: glitz, glamour and 'grimly inevitable'Talking Point Critics claim country is guilty of sportswashing as it stands unopposed to host tournament
-
Fifa World Cup 2026 expansion: for the global game or for Fifa’s greed?Talking Point The men’s tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA will have a record 104 matches
-
A tale of ‘two World Cups’: Messi, Mbappé and ‘money well spent’ for Qatarfeature Amid sportswashing and human rights concerns, Qatar 2022 ended with the perfect final
-
2022 World Cup final: Argentina vs. France prediction, preview, team newsfeature Mbappé and Messi will go for glory, the golden boot, golden ball, and PSG bragging rights
-
2022 World Cup final: Lionel Messi’s last chance to emulate Diego MaradonaTalking Point Argentina captain is one win away from achieving the ultimate dream
