Messi was angered late in the game after being penalised for a foul

Lionel Messi was banned for four international matches - just five and a half hours before Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia kicked off.

The Barcelona forward was punished for directing "insulting words" at an assistant referee during Thursday's 1-0 win over Chile.

Messi, who scored the only goal in the qualifier, was angered when he was penalised for a foul, waving and shouting at the assistant in response.

The 29-year-old was fined £8,100.

He will miss his country's next four competitive fixtures.

Argentina are third in South American qualifying, with the top four teams advancing to next summer's finals in Russia. There are five matches still to play.</s>The FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™:

Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.

As a result, Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000. The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, 28 March. The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases.

Both the player and the Argentinian Football Association have been informed of the decision today.</s>Lionel Messi has been banned for four international matches after insulting an assistant referee in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Chile last week.

The Barcelona forward will sit out Argentina’s qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday and has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs after approaching the official at the end of the home side’s 1-0 win in Buenos Aires.

Messi will also miss the games against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru, meaning Argentina will be without their captain for four of their final five World Cup qualifiers. Edgardo Bauza’s side are third in the Conmebol qualifying group and are by no means certain of reaching the 2018 tournament in Russia.

A Fifa statement read: “The Fifa Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the qualifying competition for the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia.

“Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.

“As a result, Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000. The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, 28 March. The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent Fifa World Cup qualifying matches.

“This decision is in line with the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases.”</s>Argentina will be without five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi for their next four games.

On Tuesday FIFA announced that Messi, 29, has been suspended for four international game as the Barcelona forward was found guilty of verbally abusing an assistant referee in the second half of Argentina’s crucial 1-0 win against Chile last Thursday.

Messi, of course, scored the winning penalty kick in that game.

Messi — the captain of Argentina and their leading all-time goalscorer with 58 goals — will miss the game against Bolivia on Tuesday, plus Argentina’s friendly with Brazil this summer in Australia and also two key World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela in August and September.

Argentina currently sit in third-place in CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but are far from locks in their quest to qualify for the World Cup. That task has just got a lot harder after losing their talisman for sending verbal abuse at a linesman.

Look, it would be great to see abuse from players towards officials stamped out but how many times have we all seen players across the game screaming obscenities at officials in an aggressive manner? It seems like Messi may be a little hard done by and that FIFA has used the biggest name on the planet and made an example of him.

Below is the statement in full from FIFA on Messi’s suspension.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in application of articles 77 a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) – has reached a decision in relation to the case of Lionel Messi following an incident that occurred during the match between Argentina and Chile on 23 March 2017 as part of the qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™: Footballer Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee. As a result, Lionel Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000. The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, 28 March. The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases. Both the player and the Argentinian Football Association have been informed of the decision today.</s>"Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000 [$10,158]. The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today," the FIFA statement read.

The football's governing body found the FC Barcelona forward guilty of "having directed insulting words" at Dewson Silva during the Argentina-Chile game last Thursday, denting his team’s changes of going to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.</s>Barcelona star Lionel Messi was suspended for four Argentina matches by FIFA on Tuesday for swearing at an assistant referee.

Messi was found guilty of “having directed insulting words at an assistant referee” in the World Cup qualifier against Chile last Thursday which Argentina won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from the Barcelona hitman.

Messi will miss Argentina’s next South American qualifying game against Bolivia, scheduled for later Tuesday, with the remainder of the suspension served over his country’s subsequent World Cup qualifiers.</s>Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been banned from their next four competitive international games, including key World Cup qualifiers.

ZURICH—Lionel Messi has been banned from Argentina’s next four World Cup qualifiers, starting with Tuesday’s game in Bolivia.

Messi was banned for “having directed insulting words at an assistant referee” during a home qualifier against Chile on Thursday, FIFA said hours before kickoff in La Paz.

“This decision is in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s previous rulings in similar cases,” the world soccer body said.

Messi and the Argentine soccer federation can appeal against the ban to FIFA. Messi was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,160).

FIFA intervened when the incident was not initially reported by the Brazilian referee after Argentina’s 1-0 win at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.</s>Argentina captain Lionel Messi was slapped with a four-game suspension on Wednesday (AEDT), meaning he's not expected to feature against Bolivia barring a late appeal to FIFA.

MORE: Messi hit with four-match ban | Postecoglou fires back at critics after Socceroos' victory |

Messi scored the only goal of Thursday's 1-0 win over Chile, firing home from the spot after referee Sandro Ricci gave a dubious penalty for a push on Angel Di Maria.

But the Barcelona star was enraged by linesman Emerson Carvalho in the second half and is alleged to have verbally abused the official.

"F**k off, your mother's c***," he is reported to have screamed at Carvalho, before refusing to shake his hand at the final whistle.

And, while the incident was not included in the officials' original report, it was added on Monday and sent to Conmebol.

FIFA intervened as incontrovertible video emerged of Messi swearing in the direction of the linesman. It's fined him £8,000 in addition to a four-game ban.

If upheld, FIFA's four-game ban would see Messi sit out World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia, Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru.

Argentina currently lie third in the South American branch of World Cup qualification, behind Brazil and Uruguay.</s>Argentina's World Cup hopes have been thrown into chaos after Lionel Messi was banned for four qualifiers for abusing an assistant referee.

FIFA announced the ban just hours before Argentina were due to play Bolivia - after Messi was caught on camera shouting at the official, who had flagged for a late foul against him in his country's 1-0 win over Chile last Thursday.

The Argentina forward was also fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,100) for "having directed insulting words" at the official during his side's World Cup qualifier with Chile last Thursday.

However, the 29-year-old's bigger punishment is the ban and after missing tonight's match, he will also sit out the qualifier in Uruguay in August, as well as home games Venezuela and Peru in September and October - meaning he will only be able to return for Argentina's final qualifying match away to Ecuador.

Argentina lie third in the South American qualifying group, with only the top four guaranteed a place in Russia 2018.Only three points separate second-placed Uruguay and Chile in sixth, meaning Messi's absences could prove costly for his country.

A statement from FIFA said: "Footballer Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC (FIFA disciplinary code) for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee.

"As a result, Lionel Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000."It added that the suspension was "in line with the FIFA disciplinary committee's previous rulings in similar cases".</s>Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been hit with a four-game ban by football's governing body FIFA and fined $10,000 after verbally abusing a match official while on international duty. The 29-year-old learned of his fate just hours before his country's crucial qualifying clash with Bolivia.

Start the conversation, or Read more at YourErie.
In association football, and as CONMEBOL qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup continues, the Argentina forward Lionel Messi is banned for four matches, five and a half hours before kickoff in his team's match against Bolivia.