Argentina soccer star, Lionel Messi has denied insulting a match official during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile last Thursday. The Barcelona forward who was hit with a four-match international ban by the FIFA’s disciplinary panel for verbally abusing Brazilian assistant referee Dewson Silva said his insults were directed to the air and not the official.
The 29 year-old missed his side’s 0-2 defeat against Bolivia on Tuesday due to the ban, Messi insisted that he has been unfairly punished with the suspension as his insults were not at all directed at an official.
He was quoted on goal.com thus, “My sayings were never addressed to the assistant, but they were said to the air.”
Messi will miss three more of remaining four World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru.
The 29 year-old missed his side’s 0-2 defeat against Bolivia on Tuesday due to the ban, Messi insisted that he has been unfairly punished with the suspension as his insults were not at all directed at an official.
He was quoted on goal.com thus, “My sayings were never addressed to the assistant, but they were said to the air.”
Messi will miss three more of remaining four World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru.