Argentina captain Lionel Messi is shocked for picking a four-match ban by Fifa for insulting an official in the World Cup Qualifier last week, and said that his rant wasn’t directed at anyone.

Messi, had scored the only goal of the game against Chile in Monumental, but protested a decision by the assistant referee a bit too strongly leading to his ban mere hours before the Bolivia clash. Argentina are out of the automatic qualifying places in the CONMEBOL section with four games of the campaign remaining, and risk losing out of the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

“My sayings were never addressed to the assistant, but they were said to the air,” the talismanic forward told La Nacion .

Meanwhile, Argentina have announced their intention to appeal the ban,“We are surprised by the decision that has been taken,” national team secretary Jorge Miadosqui said on Tuesday. “We are very angry because of the way it was handled hours before playing.

“We are going to appeal the FIFA sanction. There are previous [examples] to believe the punishment can be decreased. Messi is sad, as we all are. We do not agree with the way in which this was handled.”