Lionel Messi and Barcelona have been fined a mixed 780 euros (706.30 kilos) after the participant was proven a yellow card for lifting his shirt to pay tribute to the late Diego Maradona following his objective in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Osasuna.
Messi, who was fined 600 euros whereas his membership had been fined 180, paid homage to his late compatriot by taking off his Barca shirt to disclose a Newell’s Outdated Boys shirt belonging to Maradona, a gesture that was praised world wide.
But the Spanish soccer federation’s competitors committee confirmed little sympathy when upholding the foundations, rejecting Barca’s protests towards the punishment and their suggestion it ought to be waived because the gesture was a tribute to Maradona.
The committee’s assertion stated that whereas it accepted the gesture was a tribute, article 93 of the disciplinary code states {that a} participant ought to be punished for eradicating their shirt when celebrating, no matter the motive.
The assertion added that Messi may solely have had the sanction waived if he had been given the reserving in error. Messi helps Newell’s Outdated Boys and performed for the membership’s junior workforce earlier than leaving for Barca aged 13. He had additionally paid tribute to Maradona, who performed for the Rosario facet in 1993, when the World Cup winner died final Wednesday.
“He has left us however he isn’t going anyplace as a result of Diego is everlasting,” Messi wrote on Instagram.