Lionel Messi suspended for 4 games and fined $10,200 for insulting referee

The five time Ballon D’or and Argentina football team player
and captain, Lionel Messi has been fined the sum of $10,200 and suspended for next
4 international games for using offensive words on a match official, according
to the World football’s ruling body, FIFA.

Assistant referee, Emerson Carvalho ruled a foul against
Messi in the second half of the match, last week’s Thursday, in Chile.

Messi strongly disagreed with the official’s ruling and swayed
his arms while shouting and raining offensive words on Carvalho.

After thorough investigation, FIFA found Messi guilty of
insulting the referee as the footballer after the game shook the hands of two
officials, but refused to shake Carvalho’s hand.

The sanction which took effect moment after its
announcement, on Tuesday, instantly confirmed that Messi missed out on
Argentina’s game with Bolivia on Tuesday night, a game in which they lost 2-0. The ban placed on Messi, will however, not affect his playing time at his club,
Barcelona, but his country’s football federation maintain they will appeal the
ban.

Argentine’s team secretary, Jorge Miadosqui, to Agence
France-Presse that: “The federation will
appeal, as it should.

“We feel powerless,
surprised.”

Argentina are currently third in the South American qualifying
positions after Tuesday’s games.

Onlly Four teams will automatically advance from the region,
while the fifth position team will have to play against a team from the Oceania
region as playoff game.

With only four games remaining, Argentina is a point out of 4th
place