Lionel Messi: My words were directed to the air, not the referee

Lionel Messi, punished by FIFA with a four game ban for insulting an assistant referee during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile claims he was speaking to ‘the air’ and not the official, according to La Nacion. 

“My words were never directed to the assistant, but spoken to the air,” said the Argentina captain, in the document that Argentina’s football association sent to FIFA before finding out about the ban, a journalist who had access to it told Efe.

Marcelo Minelli, president of the national teams, said on Tuesday that Messi attached ‘a note’ but didn’t reveal details about it.

Messi missed the clash with Bolivia which his country lost 2-0 on Tuesday, leaving them in a tricky position with regards to World Cup qualifying. 

He will also miss clashes with Uruguay, Peru and Venezuela. 

Messi wrote his own letter to the AFA, reproduced below and translated into English: 

With my greatest consideration,

"Firstly, I would like to point out that I am replying to the notification sent by FIFA at this time, as I was traveling from Buenos Aires, Argentina, when I received it, to play on behalf of my national team the match against Bolivia, a World Cup qualifier. 

"Secondly, regarding the note sent that day to the Argentine Football Association, I hereby state that I agree in all its terms to the reply given by the AFA.

"Thirdly I firmly deny having offended assistant referee 1 during the game against Chile, and more so do not believe that my conduct falls under article 57 of FIFA's disciplinary code.

"I admit the fact that I had a discussion with the assistant referee 1, who was Brazilian, and being within centimetres of me, he understood perfectly what I said, to the point that we conversed in an amicable way without in any moment my words offending or hurting the official. This situation shows that the assistant never called over the main referee even to warn him about my behaviour.

"Even if he had not understood my words he could have consulted the Colombian delegate or with the other referees. If he didn’t it, it was not because he didn’t notice my conduct, but because he understood that it didn’t merit being reported (which is why FIFA’s action is not possible, as it doesn’t fit within what is permitted.

"My position is supported by my behavioural history, throughout my career, which is faultless, practically having no sendings off in the whole time I have performed as a professional footballer both for club and country. In any case, never for offences such as those described in this file.

"The videos that come with it, those that have been edited, cannot be verified as true, they don’t show in any moment that there has been any offence on my part to assistant 1 or conduct that violates FIFA's disciplinary code and fair play rules. Furthermore, if any of my words made assistant referee 1 uncomfortable, they were never directed at him but rather to the air and for that, I apologise.

"It should be noted that the standard of proof imposed on the disciplinary commission is higher than the simple balance of interests and the evidence presented does not meet this threshold. An edited video is not enough to detract from conclusive facts. The assistant did not say that he heard that from my mouth, only that he did not understand anything. He did’t ask about the conversation afterwards where he patted my head.

"For all the above, there is no infraction, no offence to assistant referee 1 or any of the other officials involved in the game, so I agree with the AFA's reply and expressly request that the present disciplinary case be filed without any sanction being given to me."