Lionel Messi was sent off for the first time in his FC Barcelona career. He had two red cards against him previously, while playing for Argentina in 2005 and 2019 against Hungary and Chile respectively.
FC Barcelona were playing the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Club. Antonie Griezmann scored twice for Barcelona while Athletic club had only scored till the 89th minute. Things flipped as Asier Villalibre scored for Athletic Club in the 90th minute which forced the match into extra-time. Inaki Williams sealed the deal by scoring a 93rd minute winner for Athletic Club.
The match ended in a 3-2 win for Athletic Club but not before Barcelona’s numero uno received a red card. The Barcelona skipper was sent off in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup for violent conduct against Athletic Club forward Asier Villalibre in an off the ball incident which was later spotted by VAR.
It was Messi’s first red card in his 753 appearances for Barcelona. This will lead to a ban on Messi in domestic competitions.
As per reports, Lionel Messi is likely to face a two-match ban for his foul but the punishment could be doubled depending on how the committee categorizes the incident.
Spanish media house El Chiringuito’s Juanfe Sanz reported that if the incident is deemed as “serious offence” then, Messi’s ban could go up to 4-12 games according to the Article 98 of Spanish football's Disciplinary Code.
This will prove to be a serious blow to Messi and Barcelona’s title aspirations.
Barcelona’s manager Ronald Koeman defended the Argentine by saying, ‘I can understand what Messi did, I don't know how many times they fouled him, and it's normal to react when they keep trying to foul you as a player who is looking to dribble with the ball, but I need to see it again properly.’