Back to the International Newsfeed

How Messi and Argentina are being failed by incompetent AFA

The acting head of Argentine football found out about the No.10's four-match ban on TV, proof of the chaos that has enveloped the governing body

COMMENT

The news that Lionel Messi would miss four crucial World Cup qualifiers dropped like a brick in Argentina. The usual conspiracy theories about FIFA cynically undermining the Albiceleste's efforts to qualify for the World Cup quickly surfaced but soon another culprit was singled out.

The pervading public opinion is that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is responsible for this extremely harsh punishment — and it's easy to understand why.