FIFA calls Messi on May 4

Sport Desk: Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, was called to FIFA's headquarters in Zurich on May 4 for hearing his appeal against the four-game ban.

FIFA imposed a four-match ban on the Argentine superstar for allegedly insulting an assistant in a match against Chile.

The incident was not reported by the referees and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has already filed an appeal accompanied by a letter from Messi.

"He [Messi] has been summoned by FIFA to attend their offices in Zurich on May 4," spokesman Claudio Tapia said to state news agency Telamin.

"It is important that he joins with the lawyers of AFA to make their case for a reduction of the penalty.

"The new president of AFA will try to convince him because the hope is to be able to reduce the suspension from four to two games."

Messi has already missed one match - against Bolivia on March 28. If the appeal is successful, he will only be absent for the game against Uruguay in Montevideo. Argentina are currently fifth in the South American standings for World Cup 2018 qualification and only the first four qualify automatically.


risingbd/Dhaka/April 14, 2017/A K Azad