La Liga star Leonel Messi was caught by cameras during Barcelona’s 4 - 1 win Saturday spitting in the direction of Malaga’s Portuguese defender, Sergio “Duda” Barbosa after the two collided in a game that probably shouldn’t have been played because of field conditions.

And Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola wasn’t too happy with his 21 year old playmaker saying, “It’s not right for these things to happen. We will try to avoid this type of thing.”

Messi has six goals on the season so far, three behind La Liga leader and teammate Samuel Eto’o with 9.

Don’t you just love how Messi’s casually swinging around his 2008 Olympic Gold Medal as he’s showing it off to the Spanish Press like it’s some old key ring.

Guess after all the drama that was surrounding Messi’s departure for the games, no one is going to hold it against him now that he’s got the Gold in his pocket.

FIFA has reiterated it’s stance Wednesday, demanding all players under the age of 23 (or 23 at the time of the Olympics) MUST be released from their club commitments.

“The single judge determined that the international match calendar is not of relevance in establishing whether clubs are obliged to release players,” FIFA said in its statement.

“In view of the longstanding and undisputed practice (since 1988, clubs have always accepted the release of Under-23 players for the competition), he deemed that recourse to customary law is justified.”

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Looks like Messi and Eto’o made the trip.

Wonder if Barcelona’s gonna let Messi go to the Olympics?

“We expect that Fifa will issue a statement saying that we are right,” Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola said last week.

I happen to be in Houston visiting old buds, watching beautiful tennis and having some cold ones by the pool when I opened the paper today and saw that half the known soccer universe is coming to town for a free payday soccer exibition tomorrow. Although doubtful, it is rumored officials from the Galaxy will meet with Ronaldinho at Reliant Stadium and make an offer.

Image via mylivepage

DOUBLE UPDATE -  Barcelona Sporting Director Txiki Beguiristain has made it very, very clear that they will do everything possible to stand in the way of Leonel Messi representing Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“The regulations will decide. If they protect us he will play the Champions League qualifier, if not, we are obliged to let him go to the Olympics.

It isn’t the player’s decision and we understand the regulations favour us.”

The second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League qualifier will take place on either 26th or 27th of August.

UPDATE - Messi has just confirmed that he WILL be going to the 2008 Beijig Olympics.

Champions League with Barcelona or the Olympics with Argentina? Hmmmmm.. Can you imagine having such a dilemma?

That’s what Leonel Messi, the best 20 year old in the world is having to choose between (and it doesn’t look good for the club) as Barcelona didn’t qualify straight through as they didn’t finish 2nd in La Liga. Barcelona will have to play the Champions League qualification matches on August 12th 0r 13th and the return leg would be either August 26th or 27th.

Argentina’s opening match is on August 7th in Shanghai against Ivory Coast (damn, what a game that’s going to be) and the final is on the 23rd, which Argentina will play in (Yup, mark it!).

image via DailyMail