Argentina captain Lionel Messi was suspended for three months in the national squad for criticism against the South American Confederation (Conmebol) at the Copa America in July, the organization said on Friday. The five-time Golden Ball will not be able to play the matches of his national team until the beginning of next November, but will be eligible for the South American qualifying campaign at the World Cup-2022 which starts in March 2020, except for the first match for which he is suspended. Messi (32) is also fined $ 50,000.
He was very up after receiving a red card in the match for third place Copa America against Chile (2-1). "I did not come (at the medal ceremony) for a series of reasons, because we must not be part of this corruption, this lack of respect ... We are tired of (...) corruption , referees and all that spoil the show, "said the striker of FC Barcelona in the mixed zone of the Arena Corinthians of Sao Paulo.
Politics about Brazil
This is the red card, the second of his career, which deprives him of the first match of the qualifiers at the World Cup scheduled in Qatar in 2022. Messi had already reported controversial remarks at the end of the half final lost to Brazil (2-0). "They used to whistle nonsense during this Cup, heavy mistakes, and today they did not even consult the VAR, but hey, Brazil played at home, they have a lot of power at the Conmebol and it complicates things, "the Argentine captain said on July 2 at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Apart from the U20 World Cup in 2005 and the 2008 Olympic Games, Barca's "La Pulga" (chip) has not yet won a title with the Albiceleste, having notably failed four times. times in the finals, at the Copa America 2007, 2015 and 2016, and at the World Cup-2014.