FIFA hands Lionel Messi four-match ban for insulting match official

Argentina star, Lionel Messi was on Tuesday given a four-match ban by FIFA for verbally insulting a match official during a world cup qualifying game.


The five time Ballon D'or winner was dealt the blow after FIFA ruled that he verbally abused a match official in a World Cup qualifying game against Chile last week.

FIFA said Messi was guilty of "having directed insulting words at an assistant referee" and added in a statement: "This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's previous rulings in similar cases."

Messi was also fined of 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,160) by FIFA's disciplinary panel. The suspension means he will now miss four of Argentina's remaining five World Cup qualifiers, including the match against Bolivia on Tuesday night. 

He is expected to return for Argentina's final qualifier, away to Ecuador on Oct. 10.

The Argentina federation has said it will appeal the ban. 

The incident which took place on Thursday last week was not initially reported by match official, but FIFA later intervened after the incident. 

Argentina beat Chile 1-0 in Buenos Aires with Messi scoring the only goal from a first-half penalty.

According to report by ESPN, television pictures showed Messi reacting angrily late in the game when assistant referee Emerson Carvalho flagged him for fouling an opponent. He waved his arms and shouted profane insults at the assistant. After the game, Messi refused to shake hands with Carvalho.