Barcelona appeal Lionel Messi booking for time wasting after his boot lace snapped
Barca ace shown yellow card in La Liga win over Sevilla but club want caution scrubbed off
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BARCELONA have lodged an appeal against Lionel Messi's yellow card for time wasting - claiming their star man had snapped a lace on his boots.
Messi was booked during the second half of Sunday's 2-1 La Liga victory over Sevilla after taking too much time trying to put his boot on.
The footwear had come off after the Argentina star was involved in a challenge with former Stoke and Blackburn midfielder Steven N'Zonzi.
But referee Jaime Latre took a dim view of the amount of time the forward was taking getting himself ready, and decided to book him.
Messi looked stunned at his caution and appeared to attempt to show the official the damage to his boot.
But protests fell on deaf ears, and now Barca have launched an official appeal in the hope the booking can be wiped from the records.
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A Barcelona statement said: The club have presented an appeal against the yellow card that Leo Messi received on Sunday in the match against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan, which Barca won 2-1 thanks to a goal from the Argentine."
Messi was not the only Barca star who upset referee Latre in the match, with Neymar also receiving a caution that leaves him one booking away from a suspension.