Talk about last minute.
Lionel Messi will devastated to learn that he won’t be able to take part in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier away at Bolivia on Tuesday night after Fifa banned him with only hours remaining until kick-off.
The Barcelona forward has been handed a four-game punishment and won’t be allowed to play against Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela – all because of a sweary altercation with a match official.
The game will be played at Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, and will tough enough as it is due to the breathtaking altitude. It is a retrospective punishment for insulting Brazilian assistant ref Dewson Silva during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile last week.
Messi was caught on camera referring to the “the c*** of [Silva’s] mother” after a decision was given against him. Match referee Sandro Ricci didn’t see or hear the incident and so the retrospective punishment was permissible.
