Paris St Germain forward Lionel Messi has been suspended for two weeks after an unauthorized trip for two days to Saudi Arabia, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday. The Argentina World Cup winner is banned from playing or training with the team, and his pay will be docked during his suspension, the report added. The Associated Press has the story:
Lionel Messi suspended 2 weeks for trip to KSA
Newslooks- PARIS (AP)
Paris Saint-Germain suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks after the World Cup champion took an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, French media reported on Tuesday. The suspension means Messi would miss PSG’s next two games and comes at a delicate time as the French club hopes to extend the Argentine star’s contract beyond this season.
First reported by French newspaper L’Equipe, PSG manager Christophe Galtier told his players that they would have two days off, Monday and Tuesday, if they beat Lorient on Sunday, but a defeat would result in the players being called in for training on Monday.
RMC Sport reported the suspension without citing sources. Messi will miss the upcoming Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio but might return for the match against Auxerre on May 21. PSG are top of the standings with 75 points from 33 matches.
The club did not immediately respond to a request by The Associated Press for comment.
Messi asked if he would be allowed to travel to the Arab gulf to honour his sponsorship deal as a Saudi ambassador, and Galtier and sporting director Luis Campos gave him the green light to go in the result of a win or draw, but not a defeat.
Messi flew to Saudi Arabia without asking again for permission, meaning he could not attend training on Monday.
Sources said the situation created tensions within the dressing room, with some players unhappy with the incident.
The situation surrounding the World Cup winner is further complicated by his ongoing negotiations over a contract extension.
Messi’s deal at the Parc des Princes is due to expire at the end of the season.
Barcelona are looking into the possibility of re-signing the 35-year-old, although LaLiga president Javier Tebas warned that the league won’t change its financial fair play rules to allow him to return. He is also subject to interest from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
