Internet Desk: The FIFA Disciplinary Committee in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) has reached to a decision on Tuesday in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that happened during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.
As a result, Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000. The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, March 28. The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases.
Both the player and the Argentinean Football Association have been informed of the decision today.
Argentina’s victory over Chile left them in third place overall in the 10-team South American qualifying competition for the World Cup with 22 points from 13 games.
The top four finishers qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Russia.
With inputs from FIFA.