By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Messi Suspended For Four Argentina Matches
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
Sport

Messi Suspended For Four Argentina Matches

Farouk Mohammed
By Farouk Mohammed
Published: March 28, 2017
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was suspended for four Argentina matches by FIFA on Tuesday for swearing at an assistant referee, a ban that will see the striker miss out on decisive qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.


 

Messi was found guilty of “having directed insulting words at an assistant referee” in the World Cup qualifier against Chile last Thursday which Argentina won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from the Barcelona hitman.

Messi will be forced to sit out Argentina’s next South American qualifying game against Bolivia, scheduled for later on Tuesday, with the remainder of the suspension served over his country’s subsequent World Cup qualifiers: in Uruguay on August 31, at home to Venezuela on September 5 and against Peru on October 5.

He was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs (9,350 euros, $10,170), with FIFA saying: “This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases.”

- Advertisement -

“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.

The AFA’s national squad selection secretary Jorge Miasdoqui called the ban “a blow, and unfair”.

- Advertisement -

“There are precedents that give reason to believe the sanction could be reduced,” he told reporters at a hotel in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, where the squad was en route to the capital La Paz for Tuesday’s game.

“They have cut the legs off Messi and the Argentine national team.”

Miasdoqui noted that Messi had not been warned or sanctioned by the referee of the Chile match at the time of the outburst, and nothing had been mentioned in the referee’s match report.

“We feel powerless, surprised,” added Miasdoqui.

“I’m angry, Messi is sad, like us. He could have played, he travelled to play, he should have played.”

Argentina’s victory over Chile left them in third place overall in the 10-team South American qualifying competition for the World Cup with 22 points from 13 games, behind Brazil (30) and Uruguay (23).

The top four finishers qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Russia.

Argentina have won five of their six World Cup 2018 qualifiers with Messi but only one of seven without the Barcelona superstar.

They are only two points ahead of Ecuador and Chile in fifth and sixth, with Colombia only one point adrift in fourth.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:ArgentinaFIFAMessi
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByFarouk Mohammed
Publisher
Follow:
Farouk Mohammed is a Head Editor at Okay Nigeria (Okay.ng). He has been publishing for 10 years and focused more on Local/World News on Okay.ng
Previous Article Wizkid Teases His “Come Closer” Collaboration With Drake
Next Article Court Strikes Out Andrew Yakubu’s Suit Against EFCC

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 4 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Super Eagles Rally to Draw Against Russia in International Friendly
Sport
Manchester United Raises Annual Core Profit Forecast to Between £180m and £190m After Europa League Boost
Sport
Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur Part Ways with Ange Postecoglou Despite Europa League Glory
Sport
Dangote Names Main Refinery Access Road “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in Honor of President
News
L-R: Ify Okoye, Digital Creator; Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Actress; Stella Erebor, Head Internal Audit, Nigerian Communications Commission; Emanuella Samuel, Comedienne/Actress, Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET), Meta, and Nicole Chikwe, founder of The Mummy Summit, during the launch of Instagram teen accounts in Lagos on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Meta Launches Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria to Enhance Online Safety for Young Users
Tech
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

News

President Tinubu and Top Officials Attend Eid-el-Kabir Prayers in Lagos, Emphasize Peace and Progress

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
International

Elon Musk’s Net Worth Plummets $34 Billion Amid Explosive Feud with Donald Trump

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
PoliticsTop stories

BREAKING: Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umo Eno Defects from PDP to APC in Strategic Political Shift

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?