Three months of sanctioning Messi for his controversial statements after losing in the Copa América

The Conmebol Disciplinary Court announced a three-month suspension to Lionel Messi for the official and friendly matches of the Argentine national team, as well as the payment of a fine of $ 50,000, following the file that was opened for his controversial statements in the last Copa América. Conmebol added in its statement that this decision is subject to appeal by the player to the Court of Appeals of the highest authority of South American football

The sanction does not affect the matches of the Argentine national team for the World Cup qualification, as these begin in March 2020. However, the friendlies that the albiceleste will play against Mexico and Chile, in September, and against Germany and the selection of the Basque Country in October would be lost. With or without penalty his presence in those duels was also not clear.

Messi declared, after his selection was eliminated from the Copa América in Brazil, in July, that there was corruption in the tournament and that Argentina's campaign was deliberately hindered. "They didn't let us be in the final," Lionel Messi said on July 6 in Sao Paulo, who explained his absence from the awards ceremony to Argentina for third place in the Copa América as a repudiation of the "corruption" that , in his opinion, splashed the tournament.

"I didn't go all the way a little. I think we don't have to be part of that corruption. Disrespectful to us during this cup. We leave with the feeling that we were for more, that we did both against Brazil and today the two best games, "he said after the game that the albiceleste won 2-1 to Chile.

Messi was expelled before the end of the first half of that match along with Chilean Gary Medel. Following that expulsion, Conmebol sanctioned Messi at the end of July with a suspension match and a fine of $ 1,500. (EFE)