The captain of the Argentina national team Lionel Messi in the match against Chile

© EPA/DAVID FERNANDEZ

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. The football team of Argentina Lionel Messi has stated that he was not rude to the referee during the match of the qualifying round of the world championship on football of 2018 with the team Chile. The words of the forward leading Argentinean newspaper La Nacion.

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On Tuesday the international football Federation (FIFA) announced a four-game disqualification Messi for insulting the assistant referee in the game against Chile. Earlier, representatives of the service of FIFA said that the striker has blatantly spoken out against one of the judges and threatened the Association of football of Argentina disqualification of the player. The Brazilian referees who served the meeting, said he had not heard any insults from the attacker . Later, the Association of football of Argentina said it will appeal the dismissal of striker.

“My words were not addressed to the assistant referee, I said them on the air,” – said Messi.

The match Argentina – Chile, held on March 23 in Buenos Aires and ended with a victory of owners with the score 1:0. The only goal was scored by Messi, who converted in the 16th minute from the penalty spot. After 14 rounds the team of Argentina with 22 points occupies the fifth place in the standings.