Lionel Messi has been handed a two-match ban after being sent off for the first-ever time in his senior Barcelona career in the Spanish Supercopa final on Sunday.
Messi, 33, was shown a red card in the final minute of extra-time after swinging his arm at Athletic Bilbao's Asier Villalibre.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano was alerted to the incident by VAR and after watching a replay on the pitchside monitor decided to give Messi his marching orders.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation's competition committee met on Tuesday and deemed the challenge to be worthy of a two-game suspension.
Messi will miss Thursday's trip to third division Cornella in the Copa del Rey and Sunday's La Liga game away at Elche. Should Barca beat Cornella, he will return for a potential round-of-16 tie in the Copa del Rey next week and will also be available for the league match at Camp Nou against Athletic, who beat Barca in Sunday's final, on Jan. 31.
Messi had only previously been sent off three times in his professional career and only once at club level. His first red card came in February 2005 in a league game for Barca B against Pena Sport.
Abjhon
974
it's now beneficial because messi has some hamustring issues. so messi rest couple od days
bussyfab
878
Injustice... Now it's obvious LaLiga is scared of losing Messi...
D10S_LM10
803
He did a mistake and he must serve this ban. But two min of silence for those who wanted him to get banned for 12 match 😂
jeyceilmuz
498
not bad. rest and come back stronger Lionel
UnicornWizard
302
Don’t even care that he got a red, that slap was just so satisfying to watch 😂
Vidyut
281
messi literally slapped someone but got just a two game ban. Ronaldo just touched a ref and was given 5 matches ban yet barkans say that real madrid pay referees. Messi is the most protected player ever
MichaelHarrow
13
it's now beneficial because messi has some hamustring issues. so messi rest couple od days
Totally, his hand probably hurts too.
dv13
9
why unjutice he didn't even punched him what do u do when someone wants to block u u just push him away and thats what Messi did....notice that he went kicking Messi and Messi just answered
Bro... he clearly punched the player and kicked him, don't be blind please. Ronaldo got a 5 game ban for touching a referee. There is clearly an injustice but I understand la liga don't want to lose messi too long since he brings them vision and money
Angelus_Yesu
8
You can't say bcz he was frustrating Messi he "deserved" to get slapped on the head 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣that's ridiculous New born babies are very frustrating when they start crying all night long but you don't see anybody slapping their heads lol
Your example doesn't fit into this comment my brother. How can you compare babies crying at night to a player pushing his opponent twice who is without the ball?
Angelus_Yesu
8
He did a mistake and he must serve this ban. But two min of silence for those who wanted him to get banned for 12 match 😂
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It's true he made a mistake but what the opponent did was very frustrating and he deserved it.
Niucmorstz
8
Injustice... Now it's obvious LaLiga is scared of losing Messi...
why unjutice he didn't even punched him what do u do when someone wants to block u u just push him away and thats what Messi did....notice that he went kicking Messi and Messi just answered