Messi's Argentina ban protects him from FIFA virus for Barça-Valencia
The Argentina captain has been hit with a three month ban
Lionel Messi has been banned for three months by CONMEBOL for questioning the organisation during the Copa America this summer and suggesting that Brazil had been favoured in the competition.
Argentina lost to hosts Brazil in the semifinal and went on to finish third after beating Chile in the third-place playoff.
However, the ban has a positive side for FC Barcelona. Messi will not have to travel to with his country for games in September and will have some time off before Barça host Valencia the weekend of Sept. 14.
The situation will repeat itself in October, when Messi will also miss the international break and be fresh for Barça's trip to Eibar the weekend of Oct. 19.
Messi's ban counts from Aug. 3, so will go on until Nov. 3. He has also been fined 50,000 dollars, according to a statement from CONMEBOL.
Topics with the letter
