You Messed Up, Barca Tells FIFA on Messi

FC Barcelona have waded into the four-international match ban FIFA slammed on Lionel Messi for swearing on an assistant referee. Messi served the first of the ban Tuesday night in a 0-2 loss to Bolivia.

Already, Argentina boss, Edgardo Bauza said the timing of the ban was ‘strange’. Barcelona declared the ban as outrageous and alleged conspiracy theory against Lionel Messi.

The club considers the four-match suspension finally imposed on the Argentine player to be unfair and totally disproportionate.

Finally, FC Barcelona wishes to reiterate its support for Leo Messi, an exemplary player in terms of conduct both on and off the pitch. The full message from the club reads:

“FC Barcelona expresses its surprise and indignation at the ex officio action by the FIFA disciplinary committee by suspending the player Leo Messi following the FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture between Argentina and Chile.

“The club considers the four-match suspension finally imposed on the Argentine player to be unfair and totally disproportionate.

“Finally, FC Barcelona wishes to reiterate its support for Leo Messi, an exemplary player in terms of conduct both on and off the pitch”.