Lionel Messi avoids 12-match ban for punching opponent

Lionel Messi has averted a twelve-match ban for punching an Athletic Bilbao participant in the remaining moment of Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup remaining defeat on Sunday.

The Spanish FA have slapped Messi with just a two-match suspension as they did not deem the incident to be serious more than enough to benefit a for a longer time one particular.

Messi will pass up Barcelona’s match towards third-tier minnows Cornella in the Copa del Rey and towards Elche in LaLiga.   

The Argentine been given the to start with crimson card of his Barcelona occupation in the final moment of more time for striking Athletic Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre all around the head off the ball. 

Referee Gil Manzano explained in his match report that Messi hit his opponent with ‘excessive force’ while the ball was not close to him. 

Messi was facing been dominated out of a substantial part of the domestic year, with Ronald Koeman’s aspect third in the desk and previously seven details back of leaders Atletico Madrid – who have two video games in hand. 

Messi shed his head as Koeman’s men hurtled toward an additional damaging defeat in their to start with remaining beneath the Dutchman’s leadership.

Barca experienced been foremost right until the remaining moment of typical time before Villalibre compelled an more 50 percent-an-hour.

The winner arrived a few minutes into more time when Iker Muniain’s move reached Inaki Williams and he wrapped his suitable foot all around the ball, curling it previous Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Koeman backed his star person on Sunday evening, expressing Messi’s aggravation at being repeatedly fouled through the video game unsurprisingly boiled about.

‘I can understand what Messi did,’ the Dutchman explained right after the match. 

‘I never know how several occasions they fouled him, and it’s typical to respond when they maintain attempting to foul you as a participant who is seeking to dribble with the ball, but I need to have to see it yet again effectively.’ 

Concerns had been asked about regardless of whether Messi should really even have began in the cup remaining, as he experienced skipped the semi-remaining victory about True Sociedad earlier in the 7 days by injuries.  

Koeman, having said that, let Messi make the remaining selection on his physical fitness, and stood by his connect with. 

‘I imagine right after so several decades at the leading deg
ree, he appreciates when he can engage in and when he won’t be able to,’ Koeman explained. ‘I spoke with him and he explained he was fit more than enough to start the video game.’