BARCELONA HAVE RELEASED a statement declaring their “outrage” at Lionel Messi’s four-match ban from representing Argentina.
Messi was suspended for insulting the linesman during his national team’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile last week.
The ban was announced just hours before La Albiceleste’s game away to Bolivia on Tuesday.
In the absence of their talisman, Edgardo Bauza’s team lost 2-0 in La Paz, leaving them fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying and facing the prospect of needing to win an inter-confederation play-off if they are to reach next year’s finals in Russia.
Messi’s Barca team-mate Gerard Pique, speaking late on Tuesday, condemned the severity of the suspension and the club have now publicly issued a message of support for the 29-year-old forward.
FC Barcelona expresses its surprise and outrage at the actions of the Office of Disciplinary Committee of Fifa to sanction the player Leo Messi after the qualifying match of the Fifa World Cup between Argentina and Chile,” a statement read.
“The club considers the sanction of four games imposed against Messi unfair and totally disproportionate.
“Finally, FC Barcelona wishes to reiterate its support for Leo Messi, an exemplary athlete, for his behaviour on and off the pitch.”
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Dangerous tackles get shorter bans
Maybe they wanted to make an example out of him. Just because you’re the best player in the world doesn’t mean you can say what you like to the ref.
They should be delighted. No chance of getting injured playing for his country.
If it wasn’t Messi then no one would care or be as outragged and everyone would be agreeing with the ban
@Seamus Cummins: doubt it, every weekend you see players giving abuse to the referees and not one of them get banned. The referee in this case obviously had very thin skin and got easily offended.
I know he’s their best player, but Barcelona need to remove their tongue from this lads arse, before his ego gets even bigger. Talk about a player becoming bigger than the club – even Madrid didn’t let this happen with Ronaldo
If I spoke to someone like that whilst working I would be sacked. No prejudice in the workplace. F off Messi.
Here comes another #WeAreAllLeoMessi tweet from Barcelona. Was also an “outrage” that messi got done for tax fraud/evasion according to them