Appeal confirms the two-game sanction for Messi

The Appeals Committee ratified this Friday the sanction of two games to Leo Messi, expelled in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic for “hitting an opponent (Villalibre) with his arm using excessive force while the ball is in play, but not at a distance from being played,” according to Gil Manzano's minutes.

Barça unsuccessfully filed an appeal before the Appeal Committee after the sanction of the sole judge of the Competition Committee, Carmen Pérez, who applied article 123.2 of the Disciplinary Code and, in addition to punishing the Argentine with two games, he sanctioned Barça with an additional fine of 700 euros and 600 to the offender (Messi) under the article in an amount of 700 euros and 600 euros to the offender in application of article 52.

The appeal did not prosper and Messi, who already missed the match against Cornellà, will not be in Elche either. Of course, the Argentine will be at the disposal of Ronald Koeman for the knockout round of the Copa del Rey that will be played next week.The Argentine will thus be able to finish recovering from the muscular discomfort in the back of his left leg that they prevented from performing satisfactorily against the rojiblancos.