It was not only Lionel Messi abusing the officials against Chile – me and other players were at it too, Angel Di Maria has revealed after his Argentina team-mate was banned for a foul-mouthed rant at the linesman.

The Barcelona forward was given a four match ban on Wednesday after saying 'la concha de tu madre', which translates as 'your mother's ****' to Brazilian linesman Emerson Augusto do Carvalho.

The forward claimed the common cursing phrase in Argentina was aimed at 'the air' rather than the official and his Argentina team-mate has now leapt to his defence. Di Maria claimed Messi was not the only player abusing the officials and that he has been unfairly singled out.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi was banned for four matches for swearing at a linesman

But Angel Di Maria has revealed that he and other players were also shouting abuse at officials

The former Manchester United star claims, however, that 'all they cared about was Messi'

GAMES MESSI MISSES March 28 - Bolivia (Lost 2-0) August 28 - Uruguay (A) September 5 - Venezuela (H) October 2 - Peru (H) Advertisement

'I also shouted abuse at the referee and so did other players, but all they cared about was Messi,' he told ESPN.

Messi learned of his ban only six hours before their 2-0 defeat with Bolivia, a result that leaves their hopes of qualifying for next year's world cup in Russia in the balance.

The failure to win football's biggest prize with Argentina remains about the only blot on the copybook of the five-time Ballor D'Or winner.

Messi discovered he had been banned only six hours before their defeat to Bolivia in La Paz

He has been criticised for not replicating his club performances at international level. And on Saturday his Argentina team-mate Mariano Andujar questioned why the Barcelona forward puts up with the abuse.

'I honestly don't think Leo should bother coming back, but he loves playing for the national team,' Andujar told Dos Contra Uno.

'But he shouldn't bother. Why are you going to come back? So that they can boo you again? Why would you bother?