Leo Messi was expelled for hitting Villalibre in the 120th minute of the Spanish Super Cup and will be suspended for at least two games, immediately following this final of the Super Cup.
In a Barcelona attack, Messi let go of his arm, hitting the Athletic player.
For Iturralde González, an analyst at AS and SER, the action does not raise doubts.
It is deserved expulsion.
"
They have to expel Messi because there is movement of the arm. It is expulsion. Villalibre gets inside and lets go of his arm. Red,"
said
the former referee
during
Carrusel Deportivo
.
Gil Manzano's report is also conclusive: "In minute 120 the player (10) Messi Cuccittini, Lionel Andres was sent off for the following reason:
hitting an opponent with his arm using excessive force with the ball in play but not remote from being played
. "
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Midfield player
Argentina
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As it is a direct red,
Messi will miss at least the next Barcelona game, on Thursday, in the Copa del Rey, against Cornellà.
It is also certain that he will not be able to play against Elche in the league.
The Competition Committee will have to enter to assess the action of the Argentine and
could sanction Messi between 1 and 3 games (minimum two because the action did not take place with the ball in play)
.
If the set is considered as aggression then the Barcelona striker will lose at least four suspension games.
But everything will depend on the disciplinary article that is applied.
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Article 114 of the Disciplinary Code says: "
Direct expulsion. 1. Direct expulsion during the course of a match will lead to the imposition of the suspension sanction for at least one match,
unless the fact constitutes a more serious offense. , with the corresponding pecuniary accessory.
In those cases in which the expulsion from the field of play is due to situations in which the footballer had not been able to dispute the ball (this is the case), the suspension will be of at least two games " .
The most normal thing is that article 123 is applied to Messi: "
Violence in the game. 1.
Occur in a violent way during the game or as a direct consequence of any set of the same,
provided that the action originates risk, but is not produce harmful or injurious consequences, it will be sanctioned with suspension of one to three games or for a period of up to one month.
If the action described in the previous paragraph occurs outside the game or with the game stopped, it will be sanctioned with suspension of two to three parties,
without prejudice to the provisions of article 98 of this Code ".
If article 98 is applied, 4 games may fall
However,
if the Committee considers that Messi attacked Villalibre, then the Argentine will be sanctioned with at least 4 games
(the suspension can range from four to twelve games).
This is article 98 that can be applied to the Barcelona player. "Aggressions. 1.
Attacking another, without causing injury, considering as a determining factor of the fraudulent element, necessary in this offense,
the circumstance that the action takes place while the game stopped or
at such a distance from where it is developed that it is impossible to intervene in a set of that, will be sanctioned with suspension of four to twelve games ".
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Regarding compliance with the sanction, according to article 56.8, Messi must do the following immediately, whatever the competition: "The suspension for matches that is a consequence of the Spanish Super Cup, regardless of its severity, will imply the prohibition of aligning, act, access the field of play, the bench and the changing room area,
in as many times as the sanction encompasses in the order in which they take place,
although due to calendar alteration, postponement, repetition or any other circumstance, the pre-established start of the competition ".
It is the first expulsion of Messi with the first team of Barcelona. His previous red one was on February 27, 2005 with the Barça subsidiary against Peña Sport de Tafalla.