FIFA bans Messi for telling referee “your mother’s cunt”
Barcelona star Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s next four games after being found guilty of directing insults at an assistant referee.
The official had signaled Messi had committed a foul late on in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile last week.
Video replays showed Messi told the Brazilian match official “la concha de tu madre” which translates as “your mother’s cunt”. It’s a common cursing phrase in Argentina.
The 29-year-old serial best player award winner was not shown a card. But FIFA took action afterwards handing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner a four-match World Cup Qualifier ban.
Messi missed Argentina’s 2-0 defeat to Bolivia last night.
He will also miss the qualifier in Uruguay in August, at home to Venezuela the following month and at home to Peru in October, meaning he will only be able to return for Argentina’s final qualifying match away to Ecuador.
The development could affect Argentina’s chances of reaching Russia 2018.
Argentina FA said it will appeal the ban which Barcelona FC calls “unfair”.
