Argentina football legend, Diego Maradona, has said that Lionel Messi is “more like a teddy bear than a football player”, but feels it was still wrong for FIFA to rescind his four-game suspension .
The Barcelona star has been cleared to play for his country again, after sitting out just one game of an initial four-match ban.
Messi was cleared by the FIFA Appeals Committee, after allegedly insulting a referee during a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Chile.
Maradona believes the authorities diplayed preferential treatment and it is sending out a wrong message.
He told Radio La Red: “It makes absolutely no sense, but Leo deserved [to be sanctioned] for one more match and I say that with my heart in my hand.
“They reduced the ban for the same reason they always do with star players and veteran players
“Messi is not the type of player to insult anyone. I managed him for one year and he is more like a teddy bear than a football player.”
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