Darko Bandic/Associated Press
Argentina legend Diego Maradona has defended Lionel Messi in light of his recent FIFA ban for abuse directed towards an assistant referee, calling the Barcelona star a "teddy bear" on Argentinian radio show La Oral Deportiva, per Javier de Paz for AS.
Messi was handed a four-match ban from international football for shouting offensive words at an official during Argentina's World Cup qualifying match against Chile on Mar. 24, a charge he believes is unfair, per AS, prompting the following response from Maradona:
He went on to say that he is "going to speak with [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino," and that the decision to ban him was "terrible," per Paz.