Lionel Messi suspended 2 matches for hitting opponent

Lionel Messi was suspended for 2 matches on Tuesday after hitting an opponent in an incident away from the ball within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing. 

The Barcelona ahead was dealing with a suspension of as much as 12 matches for swinging his arm at an Athletic Bilbao participant on the finish of the group’s 3-2 loss on Sunday. The Spanish soccer federation’s competitors committee didn’t deem the incident to be too critical and utilized a much less extreme penalty.

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After passing the ball out to the left flank, Messi swung his proper arm on the head of Athletic ahead Asier Villalibre as they ran towards the field. Villalibre instantly fell to the bottom and after a video evaluate Messi was given his first crimson card in 753 appearances with Barcelona’s most important squad.

Messi had been despatched off twice whereas taking part in for Argentina’s nationwide group, together with a couple of seconds into his debut in a pleasant in opposition to Hungary in 2005. The opposite time was within the 2019 Copa America in a match in opposition to Chile. He was additionally despatched off as soon as whereas taking part in for Barcelona’s “B” group.

Referee Gil Manzano mentioned in his match report that Messi hit his opponent with “extreme power” whereas the ball was not close to him.

Messi will miss Barcelona’s match in opposition to third-division membership Cornellà within the Copa del Rey and in opposition to Elche within the Spanish league. He was already anticipated to overlook the sport in opposition to Cornellà with coach Ronald Koeman making an attempt to maintain Messi’s minutes below management to keep away from critical damage.

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Messi had been uncertain to play within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing due to an unspecified health subject that had triggered Koeman to go away him out of the semifinal match in opposition to Actual Sociedad on Wednesday, when Barcelona prevailed in a penalty shootout.

Messi, who requested to go away the membership within the offseason however had his request denied, is having a median season in comparison with earlier years, having scored 14 objectives in 22 matches. He was removed from his greatest on Sunday regardless of serving to arrange the group’s first aim.