Lionel Messi has been banned for four international matches after insulting an assistant referee in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Chile last week.

The Barcelona forward will sit out Argentina’s qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday and has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs after approaching the official at the end of the home side’s 1-0 win in Buenos Aires.

Messi will also miss the games against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru, meaning Argentina will be without their captain for four of their final five World Cup qualifiers. Edgardo Bauza’s side are third in the Conmebol qualifying group and are by no means certain of reaching the 2018 tournament in Russia.

A Fifa statement read: “The Fifa Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred 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, 28 March. 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.” </s> FC Barcelona and Argentina captain Lionel Messi had been banned from international football for three months by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) following his claim the Copa America was corrupt.

The 32-year-old forward was sent off during Argentina’s 2-1 third-place play-off defeat of Chile and he later said the competition was fixed for hosts Brazil.

He has also been fined about N18 million (about 50,000 dollars or 41,121 pounds).

Messi has seven days to appeal the decision to suspend him, as well as the fine.

The ban means Messi will miss Argentina’s upcoming friendly matches against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October.

The ban will however not disrupt Argentina’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as the qualifiers begin in March.

After Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final defeat by hosts Brazil, the Argentine Football Association had complained about “serious and gross refereeing errors”.

Messi was shown a red card in the 37th minute against Chile, following a clash with Gary Medel, who was also dismissed.

“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” Messi had said. “They have showed us a lack of respect throughout this tournament.

“Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don’t allow people to enjoy football, they ruined it a bit.”

CONMEBOL had responded by saying accusations questioning the integrity of the Copa America were “unfounded” and “represent a lack of respect”. </s> Argentina's World Cup hopes have been thrown into chaos after Lionel Messi was banned for four qualifiers for abusing an assistant referee.

FIFA announced the ban just hours before Argentina were due to play Bolivia - after Messi was caught on camera shouting at the official, who had flagged for a late foul against him in his country's 1-0 win over Chile last Thursday.

The Argentina forward was also fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,100) for "having directed insulting words" at the official during his side's World Cup qualifier with Chile last Thursday.

However, the 29-year-old's bigger punishment is the ban and after missing tonight's match, he will also sit out the qualifier in Uruguay in August, as well as home games Venezuela and Peru in September and October - meaning he will only be able to return for Argentina's final qualifying match away to Ecuador.

Argentina lie third in the South American qualifying group, with only the top four guaranteed a place in Russia 2018.Only three points separate second-placed Uruguay and Chile in sixth, meaning Messi's absences could prove costly for his country.

A statement from FIFA said: "Footballer Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC (FIFA disciplinary code) for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.

"As a result, Lionel Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000."It added that the suspension was "in line with the FIFA disciplinary committee's previous rulings in similar cases". </s> Argentina star Lionel Messi was banned from playing for his national team for three months and fined USD 50,000 on Friday by CONMEBOL after he heavily criticised the South American football governing body during the Copa America. The 32-year-old Barcelona forward had accused CONMEBOL of "corruption" after he was sent off against Chile during the Copa America third-place play-off match. Lionel Messi was angered by two incidents during the June-July Copa hosted by bitter rivals Brazil.

Argentina were denied two penalty claims in their 0-2 semi-final defeat to the hosts, after which Messi claimed Brazil were "managing a lot in CONMEBOL these days."

And when he was harshly dismissed in the next game, which Argentina went on to win 2-1, he couldn't contain his anger.

"Corruption and the referees are preventing people from enjoying the football and they're ruining it a bit," Messi said.

He was given his marching orders after a first-half scuffle with Chile captain Gary Medel in which television pictures suggested he'd done little wrong.

The CONMEBOL statement on its website didn't specify why Messi was being punished but said it was related to articles 7.1 and 7.2 of its disciplinary regulations.

One such clause refers to "offensive, insulting behavior or making defamatory protests of any kind."

Another clause mentions "breaching the decisions, directives or orders of the judicial bodies."

The ban means only that Messi will miss a handful of friendly matches as Argentina's next competitive fixture is not until the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar begin in March.

However, Lionel Messi has already received a one-game ban from CONMEBOL for his red card against Chile meaning he'll miss the first of those.

Argentina have two friendlies lined up in the United States in September against Chile and Mexico and another in October away to Germany.

Messi would miss all three of those but be free to play for his country again in November. </s> The FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred 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, 28 March. 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 Argentinian Football Association have been informed of the decision today. </s> Lionel Messi doesn't feel he should've seen red for the Gary Medel altercation and feels Argentina should've been in the Copa America final. (1:15)

Argentina's Lionel Messi was banned for three months from international matches and fined $50,000 on Friday after accusing South America's governing body for football of "corruption" during the Copa America.

Messi criticised the officiating and members of CONMEBOL last month following Argentina's semifinal loss to Brazil and after the third-place match against Chile, but later apologised for his statements.

CONMEBOL has given Messi and the Argentine Football Association seven days to appeal the sanctions.

Argentina are due to face Chile in a friendly match in Los Angeles on Sept. 5, followed by another friendly with Mexico in San Antonio five days later.

Messi, who is due to return Nov. 3, will also miss the friendly against host Germany on Oct. 9 in Dortmund.

Messi is already suspended from the first match of the South American World Cup qualifiers in March because of the red card he received against Chile in an incident with Gary Medel.

Neither Messi nor Argentina's soccer association have made comments about CONMEBOL's decisions.

Messi avoided the Copa America medal ceremony in protest and later said Argentina "shouldn't take part in this corruption."

The 32-year-old also said the tournament was set up for hosts Brazil to win and had complained about Copa America refereeing after Argentina's 2-0 loss to Brazil in the semifinals.

When asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, he said "the truth needed to be told."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. </s> Lionel Messi: Argentina forward banned from international football for three months

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been suspended from international football for three months after accusing the Copa America of corruption.

Messi has also been fined $50,000 (£41,121) by CONMEBOL, South American football's governing body. He has seven days to appeal the decision.

He was sent off in his side's 2-1 win over Chile in the competition's third-place play-off and later said the Copa America was "fixed for Brazil" - the eventual tournament winners, who had beaten Argentina in the semi-final.

The Barcelona forward will miss friendly matches against Chile, Mexico and Germany across September and October.

Messi is also suspended for Argentina's first South American World Cup qualifier next March due to the red card he received for clashing with Chile's Gary Medel.

After the match, Messi was absent from the medal ceremony and later said Argentina "don't need to be part of this corruption".

Messi had already complained about the officiating at the tournament following Argentina's 2-0 semi-final defeat to hosts Brazil.

Asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, he said "the truth needed to be told". Messi later sent an apology to CONMEBOL for his remarks. </s> Argentina will be without five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi for their next four games.

On Tuesday FIFA announced that Messi, 29, has been suspended for four international game as the Barcelona forward was found guilty of verbally abusing an assistant referee in the second half of Argentina’s crucial 1-0 win against Chile last Thursday.

Messi, of course, scored the winning penalty kick in that game.

Messi — the captain of Argentina and their leading all-time goalscorer with 58 goals — will miss the game against Bolivia on Tuesday, plus Argentina’s friendly with Brazil this summer in Australia and also two key World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela in August and September.

Argentina currently sit in third-place in CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but are far from locks in their quest to qualify for the World Cup. That task has just got a lot harder after losing their talisman for sending verbal abuse at a linesman.

Look, it would be great to see abuse from players towards officials stamped out but how many times have we all seen players across the game screaming obscenities at officials in an aggressive manner? It seems like Messi may be a little hard done by and that FIFA has used the biggest name on the planet and made an example of him.

Below is the statement in full from FIFA on Messi’s suspension.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™: Footballer 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, Lionel 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, 28 March. 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 Argentinian Football Association have been informed of the decision today. </s> ASUNCION, Paraguay — Soccer body CONMEBOL suspended Lionel Messi from international matches with Argentina for three months because of accusations of corruption he made at the latest Copa América.

The South American body also said Friday that it fined the superstar $50,000 for his comments after Argentina's 2-1 win against Chile in the third-place playoff of the tournament in July.

Messi and Argentina can still appeal the decision, which stops the striker from playing in four friendlies this year.

The 32-year-old will not play for Argentina matches in September against Chile and Mexico, plus another two in October versus Germany and another adversary to be picked.

Neither Messi nor Argentina's soccer association have made comments about CONMEBOL's decision.

Messi is already suspended from the first match of the South American World Cup qualifiers next March because of the apparently undeserved red card he received against Chile.

The Argentine was sent off for only the second time in his career after a shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who also was ejected.

Messi avoided the medal ceremony in protest and later said Argentina "shouldn't take part in this corruption."

The Argentinian also said the tournament was set for hosts Brazil to win.

Messi had already complained against Copa América refereeing after Argentina's 2-0 loss to Brazil in the semifinals.
In association football, and as CONMEBOL qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup continues, the Argentina forward Lionel Messi is banned for four matches, five and a half hours before kickoff in his team's match against Bolivia.