Lionel Messi suspended for four Argentina matches after insulting ref
Lionel Messi has received a four-match suspension from FIFA after insulting an assistant referee during a World Cup Qualifying match for Argentina.
Lionel Messi will miss four of Argentina’s remaining five World Cup Qualifying matches after receiving a ban from FIFA for insulting a referee.
FIFA released a statement explaining the decision Tuesday morning:
"“Footballer Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.”"
The incident is said to have occurred during Argentina’s 1-0 victory against Chile last Thursday. Messi scored the only goal from the spot, and didn’t receive any punishment during the match, which raises questions about FIFA’s decision-making.
For better or (more likely) worse, insulting referees is about as popular among players as scoring goals. The behavior may not be commendable, but a four-game ban is mystifying.
The decision is even more significant given Argentina’s position in the CONMEBOL qualifying group. They’re currently in third place, eight points behind leaders Brazil and only two above Ecuador, who currently occupy the playoff spot.
The Albiceleste have seriously struggled without Messi in the lineup. They’ve won five of six games with him in the starting XI and one of seven without him (along with four draws and two losses), per FourFourTweet:
https://twitter.com/FourFourTweet/status/846731573445754880
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To make matters worse, FIFA’s announcement comes only a few hours before Argentina’s match against Bolivia, and with Gonzalo Higuain already set to miss the match with a suspension of his own, manager Edgardo Bauza faces some difficult last-minute choices. The suspensions will likely see Sergio Aguero, something of an outcast under Bauza, given an opportunity from the start.
FIFA has never been prone to logical decision-making, but this is confusing even by its lofty standards. Argentina are still in decent position to qualify, but this will be a huge test of their quality in the absence of their best player.