“I didn’t want to prevent him from playing in the final”: the astonishing confession of a referee who avoided sending Lionel Messi off during a match (video)
In an interview, former referee Carlos Chandia admitted to having saved Lionel Messi from being sent off in added time during a match taking place during the 2007 Copa America.
Published on 09/19/2024 at 6:24 p.m.
An astonishing confession to say the least. In the summer of 2007, Brazil won the Copa America against Argentina led by a certain Lionel Messi. But the latter should have missed the final due to a red card not given in the semi-final.
On July 11, 2007, Argentina faced Mexico. During this meeting, the Argentine n°18, Lionel Messi, scored the second goal for the Albiceleste after receiving a yellow card (50th). In an interview with ESPN, Carlos Chandia admitted to having saved Lionel Messi from a deserved expulsion in added time.
The former referee confides: “Argentina were leading 3-0 and Messi came out of nowhere to try to recover a ball and touched it with his hand. But the action took place in midfield. There was no chance that Mexico would have a scoring opportunity. I didn’t warn him because there were 2’30 left to play. I didn’t want to stop him from playing in the final. »
The Chilean referee was lenient with Lionel Messi for a very specific reason: “This foul is worth a yellow card but it will cost you your jersey,” he told him. And finally, “he left it for me in my locker room,” admits the former international referee: “He even wanted to take it off on the field. I told him: ‘No, no, no, no!’”
Ultimately, Brazil won 3-0 in the Copa America final against Argentina.
