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Maradona pleads innocence amid accusations of influencing Messi's Argentina ban

The World Cup winner considers a four-game suspension for the Barcelona forward to be "terrible" and intends to ask serious questions of FIFA

Diego Maradona has rubbished any suggestion that he played a part in Barcelona star Lionel Messi being handed a four-match international ban.

Having been accused of verbally abusing an assistant referee during Argentina’s recent 2018 World Cup qualifying win over Chile, Messi has subsequently been suspended by FIFA.

That decision was taken shortly before a meeting with Bolivia on Tuesday, which Argentina lost 2-0 to put their place at next summer’s showpiece in Russia at risk.