Following an unauthorized personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi has been given a two-week suspension by Paris Saint-Germain; the six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s two-year contract with PSG expires in the summer.

Paris Saint-Germain has punished Lionel Messi for making an unauthorized personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia.

Messi is believed to have begged PSG for permission to visit the nation, which he did on Sunday night after twice canceling a scheduled business trip there owing to team losses.

Messi, however, was denied that permission and as a result has been punished with a two-game suspension and a two-week pay penalties.

On Monday, the 35-year-old was photographed in Riyadh and announced his visit on social media. Messi already represents Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.

The amount of response from the club, who have decided from publicly commenting, is evidence of a new strategy at PSG, led by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, where everyone will be subject to the same laws and no one will be bigger than the club.

Messi will now miss the Ligue 1 games against Troyes and Ajaccio, although he could make a comeback for the game on May 21 against Auxerre.

The World Cup champion is nearing the end of a two-year contract with the Ligue 1 front-runners.

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