Messi banned from internationals for three months for 'corruption' outburst

[rooster59]

Messi banned from internationals for three months for 'corruption' outburst

 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Third Place Play Off - Argentina v Chile - Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil - July 6, 2019 Argentina's Lionel Messi during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

 

(Reuters) - Argentina's Lionel Messi has been banned from international duty for three months and fined $50,000 (£41,142) after levelling accusations of "corruption" at South American soccer chiefs during the Copa America.

 

Messi was sent off against in the Copa America third-place playoff and afterwards alleged that the tournament had been fixed in favour of hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to the title.

 

The Argentina captain called the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) "corrupt" and did not attend the ceremony to pick up his medal. He was handed a one-match ban and a $1,500 fine for his sending off last month.

 

CONMEBOL had said that the Barcelona forward's comments were "unacceptable".

 

"The player is suspended to play official and friendly matches with his national team in that period of time," the organisation said in a statement on Friday.

 

The ban means Messi will miss Argentina's upcoming friendlies against Chile and Mexico in the United States in September and another against Germany in Dortmund on Oct. 9.

 

He can appeal against the latest sanctions within seven days.

 

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Nick Mulvenney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-03

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[jellydog]

Good news for Messi as he doesn't have to play some meaningless friendlies. Plus if you know anything about corruption in football in South America you know he was spot on.

[spidermike007]

Speaking the truth, can be a dangerous thing, and must be avoided at all costs. 

[DavCurtis]

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The Argentina captain called the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) "corrupt" and did not attend the ceremony to pick up his medal.

The man just couldn't take it anymore.

[goldenbrwn1]

He’s Catalonian anyway. Prob didn’t want to be there in the first place. His past performances at world cups kinda of give it away IMO.