(CNN) — It is proof that even one of the world’s best soccer players is not above the law.
Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been hit with a four-game ban by football’s governing body FIFA, and a $10,000 fine, after abusing a match official while on international duty.
The 29-year-old became animated at the end of Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile in last Friday’s World Cup qualifier — a game settled by Messi’s first-half penalty.
After being flagged for a foul, he waved his arms and sent a volley of verbal abuse at the referee’s assistant.
The ban means Messi will miss Argentina’s crucial qualifier with Bolivia on Tuesday, as well as the games against Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela.
It counts as a severe blow to Argentina’s hopes of qualifying automatically for Russia 2018, given how poor its record is without Barca’s talisman.
The top four teams in South American qualifying go through, while the team that finishes fifth goes into a playoff. Argentina sit third, but only three points separates sixth-place Chile and Uruguay in second.
Messi won’t return until Argentina’s final fixture against Ecuador, by which time the damage could already be done.
