World Cup Winner Lionel Messi set to be banned for two weeks by PSG following breach

Paris Saint-Germain has punished Lionel Messi for making an unauthorised private commercial trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi is believed to have requested PSG for authorization to visit the nation, which he accomplished on Sunday night after twice cancelling a scheduled business trip there owing to team losses. 

Messi, however, did not obtain such authorization, and as a result, following a day of talks with the club’s administration, he was given a two-game suspension and a two-week pay fine. On Monday, the 35-year-old was photographed in Riyadh and announced his visit on social media. Messi already represents Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.

The amount of response from the club, who have decided from publicly commenting, is evidence of a new strategy at PSG, led by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, because everyone will be subject to the same laws and no one will be bigger than the club. Messi is scheduled to miss the Ligue 1 games versus Troyes and Ajaccio, although he could make a comeback for the game on May 21 against Auxerre.

The World Cup champion is nearing the end of a two-year term with the Ligue 1 table toppers, but earlier this month Sky Sports News revealed he was waiting to sign a new deal because he wanted to see their sports ambitions for the upcoming season.When Messi’s contract with PSG expires this summer, Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal wants to sign him. With the support of the nation, they are willing to pay him an absurd £400 million for a single campaign in order to promote a league that also features Cristiano Ronaldo as well as the 2022 World Cup winner.

Only hours after Messi had played the full 90 minutes of PSG’s 3-1 home loss to Lorient, which reduced the gap at the top of the Ligue 1 table to just five points alongside as many games remaining, tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb posted a welcome to Messi and posted images of the Argentina World Cup winner.

The tweet read, “I am happy to welcome Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences,” Al-Khateeb tweeted. “We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality.”