Heba Press/Sports
Former Chilean international referee Carlos Chandia has admitted saving Argentina star Lionel Messi from a deserved sending off in stoppage time, allowing him to play in the 2007 Copa America final in exchange for his shirt.
The recognition came on Thursday, seventeen years after he refereed the 2007 Copa America semi-final in Venezuela between Argentina and Mexico, which Chandia officiated during his remarks to the American network “ESBN”.
Messi stopped one of the attacks with his hand, when the result indicated that ‘Tango’ was leading by three without response, about two minutes before the end, which would have cost him a second yellow card and thus would have sent him off from the match.
Chandia (59) said: “Messi touched the ball with his hand intentionally, but the incident happened in midfield and there was no opportunity for Mexico to score. I didn’t give him a yellow card, I only warned him because there were 2.5 hours left to play and I didn’t want to stop him from playing the final.
He added: “I went to Messi and told him that this match deserved a yellow card, but my decision (not to give him a booking) would cost you your shirt.”
After the match ended, the former Chilean referee went to the Argentina team room to receive a Messi jersey as a gift after saving him from a yellow card against Mexico.
Chandia continued: “Actually, Messi wanted to give me the shirt on the pitch, but I told him: No, no, take it to the dressing room, and then he came and left it for me there.”
It is worth noting that in the last match of this era, Argentina lost to their eternal rivals, Brazil, by three goals, without reply.
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