Lionel Messi, the superstar forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentine national team, has been suspended for two weeks by the French Football Federation (FFF) following a controversial trip to Saudi Arabia. According to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Messi traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend a private event organized by a Saudi Arabian tourism board.

The FFF’s decision to suspend Messi has been met with both support and criticism. Some have argued that the suspension is justified given the player’s alleged breach of COVID-19 protocols, as well as concerns about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Others, however, have criticized the suspension as being overly harsh and politically motivated.

Messi himself has not yet commented on the situation, but PSG released a statement expressing their disappointment with the decision. “We regret the FFF’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi, which we believe is unjustified and disproportionate,” the statement read.

The suspension means that Messi will be forced to miss several games for PSG, including a high-profile match against his former team Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. It’s also unclear how the suspension will affect Messi’s availability for upcoming international matches with Argentina.

The controversy surrounding Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia highlights the complex and often controversial relationship between sports and politics. While many athletes and teams strive to remain apolitical, their actions and decisions can often have political implications and consequences.

As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Messi and PSG will respond to the suspension, and how it will impact the rest of the soccer season.