Remember how Lionel Messi's unimpressive 2019 Copa America campaign ended in a sending off? Now the Argentine knows the length of his suspension for the unfortunate red card.
The Albicelesta captain has been hit with a one-game ban (as per ESPN) for that red card he received in the third-place playoff against Chile. This means he will miss his nation's first 2022 World Cup qualifying game.
While his absence in that match might be costly, it's a mere slap on the wrist compared to what many predicted he would face. After Argentina's exit from Copa America, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner launched a scathing attack on CONMEBOL which led to speculation of a lengthy ban as punishment.
The Barcelona icon accused the continental federation of corruption, claiming they rigged the tournament in favor of Brazil after controversial refereeing, labeling the organization as corrupt. Leo would then go on to be sent off in the following game, a rec card which was slammed as the worst in football history by some.
The 32-year-old later refused to pick up his bronze medal, as Argentina went on to beat La Roja 2-1 in that game. He eventually claimed that the red card was punishment for speaking up against CONMEBOL; a regulation that stipulates public critizing of the organization could merit a two-year ban later came to light.
While many did not expect the federation to come down hard on Messi, as he is the continent's biggest star, this is a lenient punishment. As to what game he will miss, that remains unknown. The schedule for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers is yet to come out, which means everyone is in the dark as of now.
