Messi handed 3 month ban by Conmebol
Argentina veteran Lionel Messi was banned for three months by South American football body Conmebol. Messi recently accused the organizers of the Copa America of corruption, which led to the ban. He was also fined $ 50,000 (about Rs. 35 lakh).
Argentine striker Messi was eliminated by showing a red card during the Copa America Cup third place match, after which Messi’s anger broke out. Argentina won 2–1 in the third place match last month. 32-year-old Messi was angered by the referee’s decision on two occasions in the Copa America. The demand for a penalty kick by Argentina was denied twice in the semi-final against hosts Brazil where Messi’s team lost 0-2. Then Messi had leveled corruption charges against the organizers . After that when Messi was shown a red card in the next match against Chile, he could not control his anger. Then Messi had said that the referee and corruption are not allowing people to enjoy football and they are destroying it. In the first half of the third-place match, Chile’s skipper Gary Medel had a fight with Messi, after which he was shown a red card but there was not much of Messi’s fault in the TV replays. However, Barcelona striker Messi later apologized for his statement.
In a statement released on its website, Conmebol did not explain why they have sentenced Messi but does mention Disciplinary Acts 7.1 and 7.2. Such a clause is imposed on aggressive, abusive behavior or any type of abusive protest. According to another section on him, there is a violation of judicial bodies’ decisions, instructions or directions.
Messi to miss Argentina’s first world cup qualifier match
Messi and Argentina can appeal against this decision. However, there was no comment from both Messi and the Argentine Football Association. Messi will not be able to play four friendly matches this year due to this suspension. Messi will not play in the first match of the South American World Cup qualifier in March due to a red card against Chile.
Guardiola asks City to make initial move against Liverpool
Manchester City will face their arch-rival Liverpool in a match against Community Shield on Sunday before the English Premier League (EPL) starts. City manager Pep Guardiola has asked his players to strike early through this match. Last season, City beat manager Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team by one point to win the EPL title. In such a situation, when both these teams take the field at Wembley, their new rivalry will start. The Community Shield is played between the winning teams of the EPL and FA Cup, but both of them were won by Manchester City. In such a situation, EPL runners-up Liverpool have got the opportunity to take on Man City.
