Four match Argentina ban for Messi

Lionel Messi has been banned for four international matches by Fifa for abusing an assistant referee.

The Argentina forward was also fined £8,100 for “having directed insulting words” at the official during his side’s World Cup qualifier against Chile last Thursday.

The Barcelona player was caught on camera venting his fury at an assistant who signalled he had committed a foul late on in Argentina’s 1-0 win.

He was not shown a card at the time.

However, he has now been punished and will miss tonight’s meeting with Bolivia as well as Argentina’s following three World Cup qualifiers.