Lionel Messi must feel untouchable at times. Adored by millions and feared by opponents, it must come as quite a shock on the odd occasion he receives a telling off.

And this week he got a big one when he was slapped with a four-match international ban for allegedly swearing at an official as Argentina overcame Chile in a World Cup qualifier last week.

The whole affair was handled poorly, with FIFA handing him the ban just hours before his side took on Bolivia in their next game, and without him Argentine slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat.

And naturally, Messi believes that he has been victimised by the governing body, insisting that he meant no harm to the official and that he didn't even actually swear at him.

Instead, Messi is maintaining that he swore ‘to the air’ and not at the man himself, though it is unlikely that many will buy that as an excuse.

Messi is alleged to have told Brazilian linesman Emerson Augusto do Carvalho “la concha de tu madre”, which translates as “your mother’s ****,” and is a common insult in Argentina.

As well as the ban, the Barcelona forward was ordered to pay a sum of £8,100 for his troubles as well.

And while his ban won't affect his club side, he has described the punishment as "unfair and totally disproportionate".

He is maintaining his innocence, though, by claiming that he didn't direct his anger at the officials and rather just vented them into the air in general.

"My sayings were never addressed to the assistant, but they were said to the air," he told Argentine publication La Nacion (via The Sun).

Messi has already missed the game with Bolivia, but could also be out of action for the upcoming fixtures against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru, which is bad news considering his country are already struggling to make it to Russia next year.

"We are surprised by the decision that has been taken," said National team secretary Jorge Miadosqui.

"We are very angry because of the way it was handled hours before playing.

"We are going to appeal the FIFA sanction. There are previous [examples] to believe the punishment can be decreased. Messi is sad, as we all are. We do not agree with the way in which this was handled."

Good luck with that one, lads...