Argentina star Lionel Messi was banned from playing for his national team for three months and fined $50,000 on Friday by CONMEBOL after he heavily criticized the South American football governing body during the Copa America.
The 32-year-old Barcelona forward had accused CONMEBOL of”corruption” after he was sent off against Chile during thethird-place play-off during the tournament in Brazil, which ended last month.
Messi was angered by two incidents during the June-July Copahosted by bitter rivals Brazil.
Argentina were denied two penalty claims in their 2-0semi-final defeat to the hosts, after which Messi claimed Brazil were “managinga lot in CONMEBOL these days.” And when he was harshly dismissed in thenext game, which Argentina went on to win 2-1, he couldn’t contain his anger.
“Corruption and the referees are preventing people fromenjoying the football and they’re ruining it a bit,” Messi said.
He was given his marching orders after a first-half scufflewith Chile captain Gary Medel in which television pictures suggested he’d donelittle wrong.
The CONMEBOL statement on its website didn’t specify whyMessi was being punished but said it was related to articles 7.1 and 7.2 of itsdisciplinary regulations. One such clause refers to “offensive, insultingbehavior or making defamatory protests of any kind.”
Another clause mentions “breaching the decisions,directives or orders of the judicial bodies.” The ban means only thatMessi will miss a handful of friendly matches as Argentina’s next competitivefixture is not until the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup inQatar begin in March.
However, he has already received a one-game ban fromCONMEBOL for his red card against Chile meaning he’ll miss the first of those.Argentina have two friendlies lined up in the United States in Septemberagainst Chile and Mexico and another in October away to Germany.Messi would miss all three of those but be freeto play for his country again in November.