Lionel Messi was suspended by Paris Saint-Germain for making a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission.

Though the duration of the suspension was not made clear, the French media reported it to be two weeks. L’Equipe and RMC Sport both reported the suspension without citing sources. Messi will also not have his contract renewed at the club, L’Equipe reported.

The star forward had signed an optional third-season clause in his contract when he first arrived in 2021. Club officials have decided not to activate it, the report said.

The 35-year-old was suspended as he was supposed to practice with his team following a 1-3 defeat at home against Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday, but instead flew to Saudi Arabia. The loss left the defending champions with a five-point lead over Marseille with five games left in the season. Messi played the full game.

PSG had denied Messi’s request to make the trip.

The Argentina captain has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in the Middle Eastern country.

L’Equipe had reported that PSG coach Christophe Galtier pledged to give his players two days off — Monday and Tuesday — if they beat Lorient. Instead, the team trained on Monday and had Tuesday off.

The World Cup winner is banned from playing or training with the team, andhis pay will be docked during his suspension.

Messi will miss the upcoming Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio but might return for the match against Auxerre on May 21. He will then be available for the club until the season ends on June 3. PSG are at the top of the standings with 75 points from 33 matches, five points ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille.

The suspension comes at a delicate time as the French club had hoped to extend the Argentine star’s contract beyond this season.

The forward joined PSG from Barcelona two years ago in the hope he could lead the team to an elusive Champions League title. Instead, the Qatari-backed club was eliminated in the Round of 16 in consecutive seasons. Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in December. He’s scored 15 league goals and leads the French league with 15 assists.

Messi hasn’t commented publicly about the suspension on his social media accounts.