Audio By Carbonatix
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club's permission this week.
The trip followed the French club's home defeat by Lorient on Sunday, in which Messi played the full 90 minutes.
Messi will not train or play for PSG during the period of his suspension.
It is understood the 35-year-old asked permission to make the journey to carry out commercial work but was refused.
Messi, who has also been fined by the club, has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
The World Cup winner's two-year contract with PSG expires this summer.
Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste claimed in March that the Spanish club were in contact with Messi about a return to the Nou Camp.
Messi has scored 31 goals and contributed 34 assists in 71 games in all competitions for PSG, and won the Ligue 1 title last season.
He is set to miss matches against Troyes and Ajaccio as PSG, five points clear with five games to go, look to clinch a ninth league title in 11 seasons.
Latest Stories
-
Even Dangote cannot escape katanomics
48 minutes -
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs files appeal asking for immediate prison release
59 minutes -
Come again, Bank of Ghana!
1 hour -
$120,000 stolen from Ghanaian financial institution by hackers – INTERPOL
1 hour -
How presidential control has weakened Council of State – Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh explains
2 hours -
Why Council of State must be fixed, not scrapped – Constitution Review Chair explains
2 hours -
A second look, not a veto – Constitution Review Chair makes case for Council of State reform
2 hours -
U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria signal major shift in West African security
2 hours -
Too young to lead? – Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh says Ghana’s Constitution undervalues its youth
3 hours -
Let the people decide – Constitution Review Chair pushes back against fear of ‘young presidents’
3 hours -
Both of these influencers are successful – but only one is human
3 hours -
‘We suffered together’ – Amorim changes style as Man Utd win
7 hours -
‘I have never prayed before in my life’ – Seun Kuti
8 hours -
AU flatly rejects Somaliland bid, reaffirms Somalia’s unity
8 hours -
Mali rally to claim draw against AFCON host Morocco
8 hours