Menu
International Football

Lionel Messi Suspended For Argentina's Next Four World Cup Qualifiers

Lionel Messi "was barred for Argentina’s next four games" after he used "insulting words" with an official, FIFA ruled on Tuesday, according to Victor Mather of the N.Y. TIMES. The length of the suspension "was a surprise." Many commentators and football figures "were expecting a one- or two-game ban, at most." The ban "begins immediately:" Messi missed Tuesday’s qualifier against Bolivia, which his team lost 2-0. It does not apply to games for his club, Barcelona. He was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,100). The suspension came only hours before the game, which started at 4pm. Team secretary Jorge Miadosqui said, "The federation will appeal, as it should. We feel powerless, surprised." Messi was called for a foul by assistant referee Emerson Carvalho in the second half of Thursday’s game in Chile. He "strongly disagreed with the ruling and waved his arms and shouted at Carvalho." He did not get a yellow or red card for his actions at the time. After the game, he shook the hands of two officials, "then pointedly did not shake Carvalho’s hand." Argentina "stands third in South American qualifying, with four teams to advance automatically." Barring a "successful appeal," Messi will also miss games at Uruguay in August, versus Venezuela in September and versus Peru in October. He could return for Argentina’s final qualifier, in Ecuador on Oct. 10 (NYT, 3/28).

TWITTER REACTIONS:

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/03/29/International-Football/Lionel-Messi.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/03/29/International-Football/Lionel-Messi.aspx

CLOSE