Messi banned from international football for three months

Argentina superstar, Lionel Messi has been handed a three-month ban and has also been fined $50,000 by Conmebol, the South American Football Confederation.

The disciplinary action was taken by the football house on the Barcelona forward after he claimed that the COPA America was “corrupt”.

His comments came after he was sent off in Argentina’s 2-1 third-place play-off victory over Chile at the recently-concluded continental showpiece, and he later said the “cup was fixed for Brazil.”

“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” Messi said after his red card.

Read Also: Chukwueze ‘excited’ after signing up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports

“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.”

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.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now