Lionel Messi to be banned just SIX HOURS before crucial World Cup qualifier
Lionel Messi has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent days after allegedly swearing and insulting a match official’s mother during Argentina’s win over Chile last week.
The Barcelona maestro was caught on camera shouting ‘the c*** of your mother’ as he voiced his anger at a decision that went against him, all before he then refused to shake the official’s hand later on.
And Messi has now been retrospectively punished by FIFA – with the news set to be announced just six hours before he was expected to lead out Argentina against Bolivia in another crucial World Cup qualifier.
The clash was already earmarked as a difficult encounter in the way of Argentina’s World Cup dreams, with the altitude in La Paz always a defining factor for the opposition.
Argentina were famously thrashed 6-1 there under Diego Maradona’s stewardship back in 2009 when Messi and Angel di Maria required oxygen masks.
And now it appears they’ll also be without their best player and talisman who has pretty much kept their qualification dreams afloat so far.
Messi has scored four times for his country in six games including the winner from the penalty spot in that 1-0 victory over Chile.
And his bearing and influence for Argentina cannot be underestimated, with his nation winning just once in seven games when their inspirational captain is absent.
And Messi has now been retrospectively punished by FIFA – with the news set to be announced just six hours before he was expected to lead out Argentina against Bolivia in another crucial World Cup qualifier.
The clash was already earmarked as a difficult encounter in the way of Argentina’s World Cup dreams, with the altitude in La Paz always a defining factor for the opposition.
Argentina were famously thrashed 6-1 there under Diego Maradona’s stewardship back in 2009 when Messi and Angel di Maria required oxygen masks.And now it appears they’ll also be without their best player and talisman who has pretty much kept their qualification dreams afloat so far.
Messi has scored four times for his country in six games including the winner from the penalty spot in that 1-0 victory over Chile.
And his bearing and influence for Argentina cannot be underestimated, with his nation winning just once in seven games when their inspirational captain is absent.
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