Lionel Messi's reaction to the ban: Stung but not sunk
The player was surprised by FIFA's decision to ban him from four World Cup qualifying matches
Lionel Messi was in the Sun Hotel when messages arrived from his friends confirming the FIFA ban
Lionel Messi will remain with his Argentina team-mates despite the four-game FIFA ban he has suffered for insulting a referee’s assistant.
Argentina are hurt by the decision and Celia, Messi’s mother, in Rosario has not stopped crying. She is suffering because of the injustice of the ban on her son. She is unconsolable. But in Bolivia, the Barcelona star is hurt but not defeated. This is the imagine he transmits to his team-mates.
Lionel Messi was in the Sun Hotel when messages arrived from his friends confirming the FIFA ban. Soon Marcelo Tinelli, chief of the team and a friend of the player came to his room to tell him, but Messi already knew, a mixture of rage and impotence. The rest of the squad were told by Tinelli and social media. The impact was devastating. The team, with six hours to go before facing Bolivia, were shocked.
Messi is the soul of the side and the idea that he will miss four games is a big blow to their chances of progressing to the World Cup. Leo will be close to his companions ahead of the game. One member of the travelling party told SPORT: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and we are confident we can move forward.” The players believe they can still qualify and they will go out against Bolivia to show all is not lost.
