Maradona brands Messi ban 'terrible'

Argentina legend Diego Maradona branded FIFA's decision to ban Lionel Messi for four matches 'terrible' and said that he would raise the issue with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

"I am going to speak with Infantino, I think it's terrible," Maradona told Argentine Radio show 'La Oral Deportivo'.

"The absence of Messi is decisive."There is one Argentina with him and another without him."

"Four games is a lot. However, the seriousness of Messi's words are also very strong, but I think it can be changed."

Maradona added that Messi's exemplary attitude throughout his career should be taken into consideration.

"He is a sensational person and doesn't do anything except train. He is a teddy bear with his teammates, with everyone," Maradona added.

"You have to be part of the dressing room or a training session to know if it is the kind of thing which truly reflects him."

Maradona also likened the situation to Frenchman Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, saying it happened in the heat of the moment.

"I would compare it with Zidane's headbutt on [Marco] Materazzi," he said. "He left France with 10 men and was no longer the best player at that World Cup."

Finally, Maradona insisted that he had had no input in the sanction, despite his role as an ambassador of FIFA.

“The ban started with CONMEBOL. I investigated and asked about it, but I didn't influence anything."