Minimum penalty for Messi: two suspension matches

The sole competition judge of the Spanish Football Federation has punished with two suspension matches to the Barcelona player Lionel messi for his slap at Athletic striker Asier Villalibre in the extension of the Super Cup final, played on Sunday at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville. Competition considers the action of the Argentine as “occurring in a violent manner” with an opponent and not as aggression, which would have entailed a greater sanction. The Barça club has already announced that it will file an appeal.

The minutes of the referee of the clash, Gil Manzano, say verbatim: “In minute 120 the player (10) Messi Cuccittini, Lionel Andrés, was sent off for the following reason: hitting an opponent with the arm using excessive force while the ball is in play but not within distance of being played. “

The judge dismissed the allegations of the Barcelona club and considered the action as “taking place in a violent way on the occasion of the game or as a direct consequence of some set of it.” The offense is thus contemplated in the disciplinary code of the FEF and is punishable by a suspension of one to three games. They apply the intermediate grade to Messi because “if the action… took place outside the game (as is the case) or when the game is stopped, it will be sanctioned with suspension of two to three games “.

Messi thus frees himself from a greater sanction, because having considered the Committee that ccommitted an attack on Villalibre Article 98 of the same code could have applied to him, which provides for suspensions of between four and twelve games.

Messi will be lost the Cup match this Thursday, against Cornellà, in which his alignment was not foreseen, and Sunday's league against him Elche.