Lionel Messi claims he didn't tell official to 'f*** off, the c*** of your mother' as Diego Maradona calls him a 'teddy bear'
The Argentina forward admitted to using the phrase but claims he did not aim it at assistant referee Dewson Silva
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi has denied verbally abusing an official during Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile last week after he was given a four-match ban by Fifa, ruling him out of the majority of his country’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Messi was banned six hours before Argentina’s qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday, which they went on to lose 2-0 without their talismanic forward, for saying “f*** off, the c*** of your mother” towards assistant referee Dewson Silva.
However, despite Fifa choosing to ban Messi for his comments, the Barcelona forward claims he did not aim them at Silva and instead was saying them out loud.
“My comments were never directed at the first assistant, they were comments made to the air,” Messi said, according to the Argentinian Football Association.
Messi’s absence on Tuesday night hurt Argentina’s efforts to reach the World Cup, with Argentina now outside the top four automatic qualification berths and facing a potential play-off if they finish fifth. They are far from safe though, as this week’s defeat in Bolivia leaves them just two points above sixth-placed Ecuador – who they meet in their final qualifier after games against Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru.
Messi has also been defended by former Argentina international and fellow football great Diego Maradona, who says he will speak with Fifa president Gianni Infantino about the length of the sanction that Messi received.
Speaking to La Oral Deportivo, Maradona said: "I am going to speak with Infantino, I think it's terrible.
"Four games is a lot. However, the seriousness of Messi's words are also very strong, but I think it can be changed."
The 1986 World Cup winner also labelled Messi a “teddy bear” in an attempt to display his soft approach, with the 56-year-old insisting that his good nature should have been taken into account when deciding the length of the ban.
"He is a sensational person and doesn't do anything except train," Maradona added. "He is a teddy bear with his teammates, with everyone."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments