FIFA
has slammed a four-match ban on Barcelona star, Lionel Messi after FIFA
received a complaint about Messi’s behaviour during Argentina’s World Cup
qualifying match against Chile on 23 March.
The
ban announced on Tuesday sidelined Messi in Argentina’s crucial match against
Bolivia. Argentina went on to lose and are now fifth in the race to qualify for
the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Messi
reportedly launched a foul mouthed rant against the linesman during Argentina’s
previous match against Chile, which they won 1-0, via a penalty, which Messi
scored.
Messi
was angered late in the game when an assistant referee, Emerson Carvalho flagged
him for fouling an opponent. He waved his arms and shouted profane insults at
him. Television cameras picked up some of Messi’s words, which were far from
flattering.
After
the game, Messi refused to shake hands with Carvalho, who seemed to have annoyed
him.
The
match referee, Sandro Ricci, initially did not mention the incident in his
match report but later extended it to include Messi’s insults towards his
assistant.
With
the ban, Messi will miss Argentina’s game against Uruguay away on 31 August,
Venezuela at home on 5 September and Peru at home on 5 October. He will be back
for the final qualifying game away to Ecuador on 10 October.
Argentina
national team secretary Jorge Miadosqui told reporters: “We’re surprised at the
decision that has been taken. We’re very unhappy with the way it has been
handled, with just hours to go before playing against Bolivia.”
“We’re
going to appeal. There is sufficient precedent to believe we can have the ban
reduced.”
Miadosqui
described the ban a great blow against Argentina,
“They have cut the legs of Messi and the
Argentine national team,”he said.
“We are going to appeal,” said Armando Perez,
president of the Argentine FA’s interim board.
He
acknowledged that Messi “made a mistake by insulting” the linesman, but argued
that FIFA’s sanction was disproportionate.
“This
is more political than anything else,” he said.
What
FIFA said:
The
FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the
FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case
of Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred
during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the
qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™:
Footballer
Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having
directed insulting words at an assistant referee.
As
a result, Lionel Messi will be suspended for four official matches and
sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000. The first match for which the sanction
will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA
World Cup Russia™ between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, 28
March. The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent
FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
This
decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in
similar cases.
Both
the player and the Argentinian Football Association have been informed of the
decision today. (NAN)
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