Lionel Messi fined for Diego Maradona tribute during Barcelona match

Lionel Messi has been fined €600 (£541) for his tribute to Diego Maradona during Barcelona’s win over Osasuna last weekend. After scoring Barcelona’s final goal in their 4-0 win at Camp Nou, Messi received a yellow card for taking off his shirt to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey as a tribute to Maradona, who died last week. Towards the end of his career, Maradona had a brief stint at Newell’s Old Boys, which the same club Messi joined at the age of six before he moved to Barcelona. After the match, Messi posted a picture of his tribute next to an image of Maradona wearing the same shirt and added a caption which read, ‘Farewell, Diego’.

But Spain’s Competition Committee has refused to rescind Messi’s yellow card and the Argentine’s fine for his tribute will stand. Barcelona have also been fined €180 (£162) but the club and Messi can appeal the decision.

Messi also posted a tribute to Maradona shortly after the Argentine died last week. ‘This is a very sad day for all Argentines and for football,’ Messi, who was managed by Maradona at the World Cup in 2010, wrote on Instagram. ‘He has left us, but he hasn’t gone, because Diego is eternal. ‘I remember all the nice moments we experienced together and I send my condolences to all his family and his friends. RIP.’ (Agency report)