{"id":1307670,"date":"2023-05-03T16:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1307670"},"modified":"2023-05-05T17:13:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T16:13:17","slug":"lionel-messi-suspension-psg","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/lionel-messi-suspension-psg\/","title":{"rendered":"Why has Lionel Messi been suspended by PSG?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Late on Tuesday, the news broke that Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris Saint-Germain with immediate effect.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The suspension will last for two weeks, with Messi also barred from training during his time on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Why has Messi been suspended?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Messi’s suspension relates to an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, taken shortly after PSG’s 3-1 defeat at home to Lorient on Sunday. The 35-year-old had asked for permission to make the trip to carry out commercial work and was thought to have been approved, only for the decision to be reversed following a change in PSG’s training schedule.<\/p>\n

However, Messi decided to go anyway and was pictured in Riyadh on Monday, advertising his presence in the country on social media with an Instagram<\/a> post receiving well in excess of 5m views. Messi already serves as a tourism ambassador to Saudi Arabia — a role that landed him a fine from the Qatari-backed PSG.<\/p>\n

As further punishment, Messi has also been fined two weeks’ wages from PSG, who are yet to comment publicly on the matter.<\/p>\n

Messi, however, released a statement via his Instagram story on May 5th 2023.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/05\/05165442\/1F4C31971862F094997FCCF58D14F0B5_video_dashinit.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

The statement translates to: “Hello. I wanted to make this video about everything that’s happening. First and foremost, I want to apologise to my teammates and to the club. I honestly thought that we were going to have the day off after the match, as we did in previous weeks. I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia – which I had previously cancelled – and could not do so again. Once again, I want to apologise to my teammates for what I did and now I am here waiting to see what the club decides.”<\/p>\n

\n

I am happy to welcome #Messi<\/a> and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences. <\/p>\n

We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality. ??#WelcomeMessi<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QQGdnAqQ08<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ahmed Al Khateeb \u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0637\u064a\u0628 (@AhmedAlKhateeb) May 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n