Lionel Messi Apologizes For Unauthorized Saudi Arabia Trip

Lionel Messi on Friday tendered an apology for going on an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia that led to his suspension suspended by his club Paris Saint-Germain.

“I want to apologize obviously to my teammates and to the club,” Messi disclosed this in a video posted on Instagram to his 458 million followers.

He was suspended by the Qatar-owned club after failing to turn up for training on Monday, a day after their 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1.

Instead, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner traveled to Saudi Arabia without PSG’s permission to fulfill commitments as part of a contract with the country’s tourist office.

“I honestly thought we were going to have the day off after the match as had happened in the previous weeks,” he said.

“I had organized this trip to Saudi Arabia having canceled it previously. This time I couldn’t cancel it. I am sorry for what I did and I wait to see what the club decides to do.”