They Lift The Sanction To Messi

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Argentina breathed relief this Friday after FIFA unexpectedly lifted the four-game sanction that was hanging over Leo Messi, who will now be able to play the last four games in which the albiceleste is playing to be at the World Cup in Russia next year.

The governing body of world football had imposed a penalty of four games on the ace of Barcelona for allegedly insulting one of the referees in a match against the Chilean team in the South American qualifiers on March 23. In response, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) appealed to the FIFA appeals committee on the grounds that the penalty was undeserved.

These types of appeals generally tend to fail, which caused a surprise in the FIFA statement announcing that the Argentine federation's appeal had been accepted and that the suspension was lifted for Messi, who has just completed a memorable performance in the recent Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Although he describes the player's behavior as "reprehensible", he considers that "the available evidence is not sufficient" to support the violation of the rules of the body that had made him deserving of the penalty, for which reason the suspension and the financial fine imposed on him.

The decision of the body based at the Swiss headquarters in Zurich was greeted with excitement by the fans and the Argentine sports press, who found it difficult for the albiceleste to overcome the matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador without their top star.

"A great goal: FIFA lifted the penalty on Messi", titled the digital edition of Chronicle, while Olé was more direct: "Zafó Messi".

The Argentine team currently occupies fifth place in the South American qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia, behind Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile. In that position she should go to the playoffs with a team from Oceania to be in the World Cup.