Lionel Messi and Barcelona football club have been fined a combined €780 ($943) after the player was shown a yellow card for lifting his shirt to pay tribute to the late Diego Maradona following his goal in a 4-0 win over Osasuna.
Messi, who was fined €600 while his club were fined 180, paid homage to his late compatriot by taking off his Barca shirt to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey belonging to Maradona, a gesture that was praised around the world.
The Spanish FA committee said that while it accepted the gesture was a tribute, article 93 of the disciplinary code states that a player should be punished for removing their shirt when celebrating, irrespective of the motive.
The statement added that Messi could only have had the sanction waived if he had been given the booking in error.
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