The trophy-laden career of Barcelona nice-guy Lionel Messi hangs by a thread after the Argentina international was handed a whopping ?2,500 fine by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The World Player of the Year committed the unforgivable crime of emblazoning his t-shirt with the words 'happy birthday mum' and then revealing it to Barcelona fans with sickening nonchalance after scoring a penalty against Racing Santander.
The RFEF was quick to hold the shame-faced law breaker to account after his wanton disregard for article 91.1, which prohibits such loutish behaviour, but stopped short of hitting Messi with the maximum ?3,000 punishment.
A string of Messi's multinational backers, who are loath to be associated with a player with such brazen affection for his mother, are no doubt ready to pull the plug on a host of sponsorship deals.
The World Player of the Year committed the unforgivable crime of emblazoning his t-shirt with the words 'happy birthday mum' and then revealing it to Barcelona fans with sickening nonchalance after scoring a penalty against Racing Santander.
The RFEF was quick to hold the shame-faced law breaker to account after his wanton disregard for article 91.1, which prohibits such loutish behaviour, but stopped short of hitting Messi with the maximum ?3,000 punishment.
A string of Messi's multinational backers, who are loath to be associated with a player with such brazen affection for his mother, are no doubt ready to pull the plug on a host of sponsorship deals.
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