Argentina‘s 2018 World Cup qualifying is in desperate need of revival, but La Albiceleste can’t rely on Lionel Messi until the final matchday, at which point it could be too late.
That is, unless, the Asociacion del Futbol Argentino is successful in an appeal to FIFA.
Marcelo Tinelli, president of the AFA’s Comision de Selecciones Nacionales, confirmed the federation is hoping to talk to Messi and will present an appeal of the Argentinian genius’ four-match suspension.
“The idea is to converse with the player in Spain next week,” Tinelli said, according to ESPN FC. “The appeal is going to be presented and we will be discussing it with lawyers from Spain and Argentina and we want to speak with the player so we must travel there.”
Messi was suspended for four matches after being found guilty of insulting an assistant referee during Argentina’s unconvincing victory over Chile. The first game of the suspension was served as La Albiceleste suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bolivia at Hernando Siles, approximately 3,600 metres above sea level. Only four South American national teams will qualify for the 2018 World Cup without having to go through an inter-confederation play-off, and …read more