Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has described Lionel Messi as a “teddy bear” and feels he should be suspended for at least one more international match.
The 29-year-old was handed a four-match ban in March for verbally abusing an official in Argentina’s World Cup qualification win over Chile.
He subsequently sat out their defeat to Bolivia before FIFA overturned his ban which Maradona disagrees with as he’s led to believe insulting a linesman carries a two-match ban.
“It makes absolutely no sense, but Leo deserved [to be sanctioned] for one more match and I say that with my heart in my hand,” he told Radio La Red, as reported by ESPN.
“They reduced the ban for the same reason they always do with star players and veteran players.
“Messi is not the type of player to insult anyone. I managed him for one year and he is more like a teddy bear than a football player.”
To say Messi has been a positive influence on Argentina during their World Cup qualifiers is an understatement.
Messi has played six matches in their campaign, in which they’ve collected five wins and a single defeat.
In the eight matches he’s missed, Argentina have collected just one win and three defeats whilst picking up four draws.
As a result their chances of making it to Russia next summer hangs in the balance.
Only four teams from South America automatically qualify with Brazil already booking their spot.
The fifth placed team, which currently is Argentina (who are seeking a new manager), will go into a inter-confederation play- offs against the winner of the OFC third round which is likely to be New Zealand.
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