Lionel Messi was suspended by Paris Saint-Germain for taking a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission, a person with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.
The source said that Argentina’s FIFA World Cup winning captain, who is out of contract at the end of the season, would be banned for “several days,” while media in France reported that he would be hit with a two-week suspension.
Another club source said that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would “probably” be sidelined for two weeks, adding that “nobody is more important than the club.”
Photo: Reuters
A two-week suspension would mean Messi would miss PSG’s next two games.
“He cannot train, cannot play and will not be paid while disciplinary measures are in place,” the first source said.
PSG had denied Messi’s request to make the trip, the source said.
Thirty-five-year-old Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in the Middle Eastern country.
The suspension comes at a delicate time as the French club had hoped to extend the Argentine star’s contract beyond this season.
Messi’s trip followed PSG’s surprise 3-1 loss to Lorient on Sunday, leaving the defending champions with a five-point lead over Olympique de Marseille with five games left in the season. Messi played the full game.
There has been speculation about where Messi would play next, especially after reports that contract talks with PSG had broken down.
Some PSG fans have even booed him during the team’s inconsistent campaign.
Aditional reporting by AFP
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