MORE than 5,000 fuming fans have signed a petition calling for Lionel Messi to be banned for the Champions League second leg against Liverpool.
The Argie superstar, 31, netted twice - including a stunning late free-kick - to hand Barcelona a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
But in winning the set-piece, some Reds supporters claim the five-time Ballon d'Or winner punched Fabinho in the face.
One fan even created a petition on change.org titled: "Get Messi a retrospective ban for clearly punching Fabinho in the head."
It 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.
Fabinho blocked off Messi as he tried to play a one-two with the score at 1-0.
The mini magician tried to jump out of the way of the challenge and bumped into the Brazilian.
And there are plenty of people who believe he deliberately aimed a punch at Fabinho's face.
One reply stated: "Listen, if this was say, Mo Salah every other fan would call him out on e.g. like against Porto which was not intentional and not able to be sanctioned after the game, in this incident VAR should have been used."
A Reds supporter tweeted: "Apparently UEFA are looking into the actions from Messi. - Firstly looking into the punch throw at Fabinho - Moving the free-kick 4/5 yards forward where it was meant to be.
"Hopefully some sort of action will be taken."
While another added: "So Messi is getting away with a clear punch to Fabinho face and he dives".