Players who abuse match officials should be sent off and suspended — but I am amazed Lionel Messi has been given a four-match ban.

The Argentine appeared to use insulting and offensive language towards the assistant referee against Chile last week. He was clearly annoyed at being penalised for a foul but, despite his animated protests, he was not sanctioned at the time.

However, a FIFA disciplinary committee has watched video evidence and decided to impose the ban, which I believe is against the laws of the game.

Lionel Messi has been banned for four matches for a foul-mouthed rant at a linesman

Messi said 'la concha de tu madre' which translates directly to 'f*** off, your mother's ****' - a common cursing phrase in Argentina - to linesman Emerson Augusto de Carvalho

The incident occurred in full view of the assistant who was abused and therefore the decision of the active match officials should stand.

If a player strikes an opponent out of view of all active officials, then a retrospective ban should be imposed. This sanction seems at odds with that.

This season there has been a clear intention to punish over-vociferous dissent and, in the Premier League, referees have cautioned those who clearly step out of line.

However, none has yet been dismissed or banned.

Messi arrives at the Hernando Siles stadium ahead of Argentina's 2-0 defeat by Bolivia

The Barcelona superstar waves to fans as he prepares to cheer on his side in Bolivia

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

Some found it surprising that I was unaware when players swore directly at me, but if you are focusing on an incident, you can miss abuse.

However, when I did report such acts it was dealt with strongly.

In one Champions League game as I dismissed Argentine Marcelo Gallardo for his second yellow card he shouted 'F*** you, f*** you, f*** you' directly at me.

UEFA imposed a five-match ban, two for the red and one for each abusive word.

The length of the ban also seems heavy. Four matches for swearing may leave Wales' Neil Taylor, whose shocking tackle snapped Seamus Coleman's leg, fearing a very lengthy suspension.