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Lionel Messi: Argentina Forward Banned From International Football For Three Months

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been banned from international football for three months after claiming the Copa America was “corrupt”.

Lionel Messi ban 3 Month

Barcelona forward Messi, 32, was sent off in Argentina’s 2-1 third-place play-off win over Chile and later said the “cup was fixed for Brazil”.

He has also been fined $50,000 (£41,121) by Conmebol, the South American Football Confederation.

Messi has seven days to appeal Conmebol’s decision to suspend him.

The ban means Messi will miss Argentina’s upcoming friendlies against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October.

Argentina’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup begins in March 2020.

Following Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final defeat by hosts Brazil, the Argentine Football Association complained about “serious and gross refereeing errors”.

In response, Conmebol said accusations questioning the integrity of the Copa America were “unfounded” and “represent a lack of respect”.

Messi was shown a red card in the 37th minute against Chile, following a clash with Gary Medel, who was also dismissed.

“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” Messi said. “They have showed us a lack of respect throughout this tournament.

“Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don’t allow people to enjoy football, they ruined it a bit.”

 

Tony Williams
Tony Williams
Tony Williams is a seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience covering a wide range of topics, from local news to international events. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Tony has won numerous awards for his investigative reporting. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of California and has worked for several top-tier newspapers. Tony is known for his tenacity and commitment to delivering high-quality journalism to his readers, and he is widely respected in the industry for his integrity and professionalism.
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