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World Cup 2018 fixtures, tickets, news, gossip

Up to date World Cup 2018 news, gossip, fixtures, results

Barca and Argentina superstar striker Lionel Messi has been suspended for four games.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip and rumors plus fixtures, results for World Cup 2018 at 1st4FootballTickets.com!

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner and superstar striker Lionel Messi for Barcelona and Argentina has been banned for four games and fined after being reportedly saying swear words to a referee in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile. Messi was accused of using insulting language towards a match official in the World Cup qualifiers. Without their star footballer, Argentina lost 2-0 to Bolivia in La Paz and the media, fans, and Barcelona are outraged as a result. Messi traveled to La Paz with his Argentina side but could only watch on the sidelines as they lost to Bolivia. Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo wrote that the ban was a ‘Fifa vendetta, Mundo Deportivo ran the headline “Vendetta Fifa” on their front page, and Sport referred to the event as a “Scandal.” Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza said the timing of the ban was “strange” and Barcelona fc have declared their “outrage”. However is is debatable whether or not Messi actually did anything to warrant the severe ban. Barca have weighed into the Lionel Messi suspension – going so far to talk of a conspiracy theory against the 29-year-old Argentina ace.

FC Barcelona expressed its surprise and indignation at the action by the Fifa disciplinary committee by suspending Messi following the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying fixture between Argentina and Chile. Barca considers the four-match suspension given to the Argentine player to be unfair and totally disproportionate. FC Barcelona reiterated its support for Messi, an exemplary player in terms of conduct both on and off the pitch. Lionel Messi has attempted to make things right after being suspended by FIFA for verbally abusing a referee’s assistant. A note from Messi accompanied his appeal to have his suspension reduced. “My comments were never directed at the first assistant, they were comments made to the air,” Messi said.

Messi’s mistake happened when he apparently swore at the assistant referee in Argentina’s 1-0 win against Chile on Friday. The video evidence of what he said was pretty clear. Messi is slated to miss three more World Cup 2018 qualifying matches, unless his suspension gets reduced due to his appeal. The absence of Messi puts Argentina’s World Cup hopes in severe jeopardy. Supporters of pro football including the Spanish La Liga and English Premier League can verify that Football players commonly swear at referees. Messi because of his status as one of the top football players in the world may have deserved to be made an example of. Swearing is unsportsmanlike and disrespectful setting a poor example for football youth. Swearing goes against the spirit of fair play and should be unacceptable in pro football.

Lionel Messi retired from international football last June, only to return to play for Argentina weeks later. The threat of Argentina competing in the World Cup without Messi is real.. Placed fifth in the Conmebol qualifying group with four games left following their defeat to Bolivia, Argentina will have to win without Messi as he serves the final three matches of the suspension that was handed to him only a matter of hours before kick-off in La Paz. The timing was poorly timed. The ramifications of Messi’s ban could be costly. Two of the games Messi will miss are home ties with Venezuela and Peru, after a visit to Uruguay in August. Edgardo Bauza’s side dare not lose to Uruguay if they are to go on in the tournament all the way to Russia. The punishment imposed by Fifa came after they viewed footage of an incident in last week’s win over Chile that did not make the referee’s report. Messi, who will turn 31 during the World Cup, may have played his last game for Argentina.

By the way, Messi failed to turn up at Fifa’s inaugural ‘Best Player’ awards. Meanwhile, Argentine’s arch rivals Brazil are the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, maintaining their proud record as the tournament’s only ever-present side. Five-times champions Brazil beat Paraguay 3-0 on Tuesday for their eighth successive win in the South American qualifying competition. Peru’s surprise 2-1 win over Uruguay in a later game guaranteed Brazil a top-four finish. With four rounds of fixtures remaining, Brazil have 33 points, followed by Colombia (24), Uruguay and Chile (23). Argentina (22) are in fifth place, which earns a two-leg play-off against the top-ranked Oceania region side. Uruguay and Argentina will clash which means it is impossible for both to overtake Brazil. Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho opened the match scoring for Brazil and Neymar scored a goal in the second half before Marcelo added a late third in São Paulo.

Barcelona superstar striker Neymar captained his side. “I always think of overcoming my limits,” Neymar said. “First of all I want to help my team, always, and then I think about pushing the limits, reaching the marks of games and goals, I am very happy for this moment, not only mine, but also my team-mates. We are achieving our goals, which is to win and reach the World Cup as well.” Argentina dropped down the standings after losing to Bolivia at high altitude in La Paz, weakened by the absence of Messi as he began a four-match suspension. The five-times world player of the year was banned less than six hours before kick-off for swearing at a linesman in the previous match, a 1-0 win over Chile. He will now be available only for the last of Argentina’s games, a potentially key match in Ecuador. Russia are guaranteed a place as hosts.

World Cup Russia 2018 tickets & qualifiers schedule

Buy authentic, legal World Cup Russia 2018 Qualifiers tickets for England, Scotland, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and holders Portugal now online for great prices at 1st4FootballTickets.com!

JUN 9 Sweden v France, Friends Arena - Solna, Sweden
JUN 10 Scotland v England, Hampden Park - Glasgow, United Kingdom
JUN 9 Netherlands v Luxembourg, Feyenoord Stadium - De Kuip - Rotterdam, Netherlands
JUN 10 Germany v San Marino, Frankenstadion - Nuremberg, Germany
JUN 11 Italy v Liechtenstein, Stadio Friuli - Udine, Italy
AUG 31 France v Netherlands, Stade de France - Paris, France
AUG 31 France v Netherlands, Stade de France - Paris, France
AUG 31 Portugal v Faroe Islands, TBD Portugal
AUG 31 Switzerland v Andorra, TBD Switzerland
SEP 2 Spain v Italy, TBD - SPAIN - TBD, Spain
SEP 2 Spain v Italy, TBD - SPAIN - TBD, Spain
SEP 3 France v Luxembourg, Stade de France - Paris, France
SEP 3 Netherlands v Bulgaria, TBD Amsterdam, Netherlands
SEP 4 England v Slovakia, Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom
SEP 4 Germany v Norway, TBD Berlin, Germany
SEP 5 Italy v Israel, TBD Rome, Italy
OCT 5 England v Slovenia, Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom
OCT 5 Northern Ireland v Germany, Windsor Park - Belfast, Northern Ireland
OCT 6 Italy v FYR Macedonia, TBD Rome, Italy
OCT 6 Spain v Albania, TBD, Spain
OCT 7 Switzerland v Hungary, TBD, Switzerland
OCT 8 Germany v Azerbaijan, TBD Berlin, Germany
OCT 10 France v Belarus, Stade de France TBD Paris, France
OCT 10 Netherlands v Sweden, TBD Amsterdam, Netherlands
OCT 10 Portugal v Switzerland, TBD Portugal

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