Lionel Messi having an international ban
overturned by FIFA is evidence of an imbalanced
playing field in football, says Chile star Arturo
Vidal.
Messi was handed a four-match ban after abusing
a match official during the 1-0 victory over Chile in
March, ruling him out of the 2-0 loss at Bolivia and
their next three 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
However, the Barcelona star is free to play in the
remainder of Argentina's campaign after the
sanction was wiped out on appeal.
Argentina are currently fifth in the CONMEBOL
standings, a position that would send them into an
inter-continental play-off against a side from
Oceania.
Chile sit a point and a place above La Albiceleste
and Vidal was less than impressed to see their
rivals regain their captain and talisman.
"That's a difficult issue," Vidal is quoted by AND
Radio. "I wish all the rules were the same for
everybody.
"It's good for Argentina, for Messi and for football.
It's always nice to watch Messi playing for the
national team because he always gives everything,
so good for him, but I wish all the rules were the
same everybody."
Chile's frustrations may be exacerbated, having
seen their midfielder Gary Medel handed the same
ban as Messi for a similar offence and only having
one game struck off on appeal.
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