''La Concha de tu madre.''
Those are the words Lionel Messi allegedly said to assistant referee Emerson Carvalho during the Argentina vs Chile World Cup qualifier on March 23. The words loosely translate to:
''Your mother's cunt.''
FIFA slapped the Argentine with a four-match ban after the incident was brought forth by match officials. Argentina lost 2-0 in their first WC match without Messi in this campaign, and are expected to face even tougher times ahead in Leo's absence.
But in his own defense, the Barcelona star told Argentine newspaper La Nacion (via AS) that he said those words but were not directed to the referee but to the air instead.
But the 29-year-old appeared to be facing the referee when those words came spewing out of his mouth
"My comments were never directed at the first assistant, they were comments made to the air.''
Meanwhile, the Argentina FA is expected to file an appeal against the ban of their key player. If the appeal is approved, the four-game ban could be sliced.
