PSG to suspend Messi for two weeks over unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia

According to RMC Sport and L’Équipe, PSG have taken the stunning decision on Tuesday evening to suspend Lionel Messi for two weeks with immediate effect. The Argentine World Cup winner travelled to Saudi Arabia on Monday while his PSG teammates were training at the Camp des Loges, the league leaders’ training ground.

The PSG players were not initially meant to train on Monday, nor on Tuesday. However, following Sunday’s limp 3-1 home defeat to Lorient, Monday’s day off was cancelled, with players ordered to report to the Camp des Loges, for training. Messi was a notable absentee.

The trip, which was part of Messi’s contractual obligations as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia, wasn’t sanctioned by manager Christophe Galtier, nor by Sporting Advisor Luís Campos, whilst the Argentine’s absence was a topic of lengthy discussion in the PSG dressing room, with some players reportedly “shocked.” AFP have confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been opened by PSG following Messi’s unauthorised absence. The Argentinian playmaker will therefore miss the next two PSG games, at Troyes this Sunday, and against Ajaccio on Saturday May 13.