Registration row threatens Messi

[Mac 10 †]

Registration row threatens Messi 
 
Barcelona could be deprived of their Argentine forward Lionel Messi because of a row over his registration.
 
The 18-year-old was granted Spanish citizenship nearly four weeks after the league's registration deadline.

Now, after complaints from Deportivo La Coruna and Alaves, the Spanish Football League has asked the Spanish Football Federation to cancel Messi's licence.

The highly-rated Messi sought dual nationality to boost his chances of playing time at star-studded Barca.

League rules limit Spanish clubs to three non-European Union players - Barca's are Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, Mexican defender Rafael Marquez and Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho.

Messi, considered by some to be the next Diego Maradona, gained dual-national status on 26 September and went on to play his first league game in the 2-2 draw against Real Zaragoza in early October.

Spanish law allows nationals from some Latin American countries, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea and Andorra to apply for citizenship after two years of residence.

Messi, who was fast-tracked for citizenship, is just the latest big-name footballer to take advantage of this rule as a means of by-passing the league's limit on non-EU players.

Real Madrid's Brazilians Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos have also taken this step, and compatriots Robinho and Julio Baptista are next in the queue.

The league posted its request for action on Messi on its website and added that if the federation ignored the request it would take the matter to the Spanish Sports Council.