'Messi is a boxer': Liverpool fans protest Messi 'punch' as online petition passes 11,000 signatures

Liverpool have a mountain to climb after losing 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, and one Reds fan has tried to level the playing field by calling for a UEFA ban for Barca star Lionel Messi.

The Liverpool fan has taken to the internet and set up an online petition via the Change.org website calling for retrospective action against the Argentinian superstar for an alleged "punch" on Reds midfielder Fabinho during the incident that led to Messi's spectacular free-kick goal.

That strike made it 3-0 to Barcelona and left Liverpool with a mountain to climb in next week's second leg at Anfield. But while the majority of the football world was hailing the brilliance of Messi's 25-yard free-kick, some fans were incensed at the award of the set-piece.

Some fans have pointed to replays of the foul given against Fabinho, saying the decision should have been given the other way, with fans arguing that, rather than being blocked by the Brazilian midfielder, Messi struck Fabinho in the head with a punch.

Fabinho went to ground holding his head, but the free-kick was given against him and Messi picked himself up and scored a spectacular third for Barca - his second goal of the game.

But one fan decided simply being angry at the decision was not enough, and set up the online petition, titled: "Get Messi a retrospective ban for clearly punching Fabinho in the head".

The page blurb reads: "So basically Messi gets a free-kick for punching Fabinho in the head and scores it, I feel like this needs to be looked at by UEFA."

The petition has attracted more than 11,000 signatures, with fans making clear their discontent over Messi's challenge on Fabinho and the subsequent decision by the referee to award a free-kick in the Barca star's favor.

One fan said: "3 game ban for violence. Shocking behavior and terrible example to the millions of fans who follow him."

Another stated: "This is just a pure and utter disgrace if UEFA don't do anything about this."

And another declared: "I think Messi conned the referee by fabricating a foul, and he punched Fabinho. He's a cheat!"

Some fans bemoaned the lack of a VAR review, while others claimed Messi stole some yards by placing the ball closer to the goal than the incident. And one simply suggested Messi was playing the wrong sport, posting: "Messi is a boxer".

Despite a plethora of signatures and comments, it is highly unlikely UEFA will take any notice, and Messi will line up against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night in the second leg.