Messi summoned by FIFA to present testimony regarding suspension

Argentina's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign is in need of revival, and the first week of May will be instrumental to any chance of recovery.

In conversation with Telam, Claudio Tapia, the president of the Asociacion del Futbol Argentino, revealed Lionel Messi was summoned by FIFA to testify in the case of the Argentinian genius' four-match suspension.

Messi was suspended for the matches after being found guilty of insulting an assistant referee during Argentina's unconvincing victory over Chile in March. The first game of the suspension was served as La Albiceleste suffocated in the Andes mountains, falling 2-0 away to Bolivia in 2018 World Cup qualifying. Four matchdays remain in South America, meaning the Argentinian genius will only be able to play on the final matchday unless an appeal is successful.

Tapia divulged Messi "was summoned by FIFA to present his deposition for the four-date sanction he received after the match against Chile on May 4." The president also spoke of the importance of concurring with the AFA's lawyers and confirmed he'll be travelling to Barcelona on Thursday to interview the player.

The AFA's board of directors approved the hiring of two layers who specialise in sporting rights, and Marcelo Tinelli, the president of the AFA's Comision de Selecciones Nacionales, announced an appeal is going to be presented.

Related: AFA wants to speak with Messi, putting together appeal of suspension

Argentina is sitting fifth in CONMEBOL's 2018 World Cup qualifying. Only four national teams will qualify, while whoever finishes fifth will have to go through an inter-confederation play-off involving an opponent from Oceania.

In the six 2018 World Cup qualifiers in which has Messi played, Argentina won five and lost one. In the eight he's missed, La Albiceleste won one and lost four. The numbers speak for themselves.