PSG Suspends Messi for 2 Weeks After Unsanctioned Saudi Arabia Trip

Paris Saint-Germain has suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks due to an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia according to reports from French media on Tuesday.

The suspension will result in Messi missing the next two PSG games, which comes at a sensitive time for the French club as they hope to extend his contract beyond this season.

L’Equipe and RMC Sport both reported the suspension, but the club has not yet issued an official statement regarding the matter.

Messi’s trip occurred after PSG’s surprising 3-1 loss to Lorient on Sunday, which left the defending champions with a five-point lead over Marseille with only five games remaining in the season. Messi played the entire game against Lorient.

L’Equipe had reported that PSG coach Christophe Galtier promised his players two days off if they managed to win against Lorient, but instead, the team trained on Monday, and players had Tuesday off. Messi has a promotional contract with Saudi Arabia.

Messi, a forward, joined PSG from Barcelona two years ago, and there has been much speculation about where he will play next.