Lionel Messi banned for one game and fined for red card against Chile in Copa America third-place playoff clash
Lionel Messi was shown the red card after clashing with Gary Medel and afterwards alleged that the tournament had been fixed in favour of the hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to claiming the title.
-
Lionel Messi has been banned for one game and fined $1,500 after being sent off against Chile in Copa America third-place playoff
-
Messi had also levelled accusations of corruption at South American football chiefs
-
The ban is expected to be served in Argentina’s first qualifier for the 2022 World Cup
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been banned for one game and fined $1,500 after being sent off against Chile in the Copa America third-place playoff and levelling accusations of “corruption” at South American football chiefs.
Messi was shown the red card after clashing with Gary Medel and afterwards alleged that the tournament had been fixed in favour of the hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to claiming the title.
File image of Lionel Messi. Reuters
Messi called the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) “corrupt” and did not attend the ceremony to pick up his medal.
CONMEBOL said on Tuesday that Messi’s comments were “unacceptable” but backed down from imposing a tougher sanction on the five-times world player of the year.
The ban is expected to be served in Argentina’s first qualifier for the 2022 World Cup.
In another Argentina-related decision on Tuesday, CONMEBOL removed the head of the Argentine Football Association’s Claudio Tapia as their official representative at FIFA.
Tapia also sharply criticized CONMEBOL during and after the Copa America.
also read
Chile wildfires spread amid heat wave as death toll rises
The government declared a state of catastrophe in the La Araucanía region, which is south of Ñuble and Biobío, two central-southern regions where the emergency declaration had already been issued
Club World Cup 2023: Al Hilal down Flamengo 3-2, move into final
The Saudis on Saturday will play the winner of Wednesday's other semi-final between European champions Real Madrid and Egypt's Al Ahly.
FIFA Women's World Cup hosts Australia, New Zealand want 'urgent' answers over Saudi Arabia sponsorship
Visit Saudi is reportedly poised to be named among the sponsors of the 32-team football tournament to be held in New Zealand and Australia from 20 July.