Messi Faces 12-Match Ban For Punching Opponent

Lionel Messi could face a long ban after punching his opponent during super cup final.

News Rain Nigeria gathered that after getting a red card during Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night, Lionel Messi might be facing a 12-match ban.

The Argentine play-maker was sent off as Barcelona were beaten 3-2 by Athletic Bilbao. It was Messi’s first red card for Barcelona and only the third of his career.

Messi Faces 12-Match Ban For Punching Opponent

The Argentine received the first red card of his Barcelona career in the last minute of extra time for striking Athletic Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre around the head off the ball.

And if the Spanish FA deem that the incident was ‘aggressive’ when they review the incident, Messi faces a suspension of anything between four and 12 matches.

That would rule the Barca captain out of a significant portion of the domestic season, with Ronald Koeman’s side third in the table and already seven points back of leaders Atletico Madrid – who have two games in hand.

Koeman backed his star man over the incident, saying Messi’s frustration at being repeatedly fouled throughout the game caused him the red card.

‘I can understand what Messi did,’ the Dutchman said after the match.

‘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.’

Recall that Messi lost his head as Koeman’s men hurtled towards another damaging defeat in their first final under the Dutchman’s leadership.

Barca had been leading until the final minute of normal time before Villalibre forced an extra half-an-hour.

The winner came three minutes into extra time when Iker Muniain’s pass reached Inaki Williams and he wrapped his right foot around the ball, curling it past Marc-Andre ter Stegen