Argentina finished third at the Copa but captain and star man Lionel Messi spoke voraciously complaining about the semi-final and the third-place play-off, during which he was controversially sent off.
The 32-year-old Argentine captain Lionel Messi has been banned from international football for three months by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) following his claim the Copa America was corrupt.
The Barcelona forward was sent off during Argentina’s 2-1 third-place play-off defeat to Chile and he later said the competition was fixed for hosts Brazil.
Messi who is a five- times Ballon D’or winner has also been fined about 50,000 dollars or 41,121 pounds.
Messi has seven days to appeal the decision to suspend him, as well as the fine.
The ban means Messi will miss Argentina’s upcoming friendly matches against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October.
However, the ban will not disrupt Argentina’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as the qualifiers begin in March.
By Delrand Ansah Mensah Whyte (SKIPPER), Daily Mail Gh
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