Messi Banned For Three Months By CONMEBOL
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been banned for three months by the South American Football confederation, CONMEBOL, for derogatory comments he made against the 2019 Copa America.
Messi has also been fined €50,000 and will sit out Argentina’s upcoming friendly games against Chile, Mexico and Germany.
The 32-year-old has one week to contest the punishment he has been given.
Messi slammed the 2019 Copa America as ‘corrupt’ and feared the final game between Brazil and Peru could be rigged in the hosts favour when he received his marching off orders, alongside Chile’s Gary Medel in the third-place play-off after the pair clashed a few minutes before half-time.
That red card was only the second of Messi’s professional career with his first coming less than a minute into his Argentina debut 14 years ago.
Although Argentina won the third-place play-off game 2-1, with goals coming from Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala while Arturo Vidal halved the deficit for Chile, the major talking point of the game was obviously Messi’s dismissal.
Messi had previously berated officiating at the tournament after Argentina’s loss to Brazil in the semi-finals and after failing to appear for his bronze medal after the game, the five-time Ballon d’or winner suggested his red card was as a result of his previous comments.
"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," Messi told reporters.
"I hope the VAR and referees don't play any part in the final and that Peru can compete but it looks tough to me.
"I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn't have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America.
