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Asuncion – Argentine star Lionel Messi was banned from playing for his national team for Three month and a $ 50,000 fine on Friday by CONMEBOL after severely criticizing the South American government during the Copa America.
The 32-year-old Barcelona striker accused CONMEBOL of "corruption" after his expulsion against Chile in the third-place match at the tournament in Brazil, which ended last month. .
Messi was upset by two incidents during the June-July Copa organized by Brazil, his bitter rival.
Argentina was denied two penalty claims in its 2-0 semi-final loss to the hosts, after which Messi said Brazil "was handling a lot of CONMEBOL these days."
And when he was severely fired at the next match, as Argentina won 2-1, he could not contain his anger.
"Corruption and referees prevent people from enjoying football and they mess it up a bit," Messi said.
He was ordered after a fight in the first half with Chilean captain Gary Medel, during which television footage suggested that he had done nothing wrong.
CONMEBOL's statement on its website did not specify why Messi was being punished but indicated that it was related to sections 7.1 and 7.2 of its disciplinary rules.
One of these clauses speaks of "offensive behavior, insulting or defamatory protests of all kinds".
Another clause mentions "the violation of the decisions, directives or orders of the judicial organs".
This ban only means that Messi will miss a handful of friendlies, as Argentina's next match will not be held before the start of qualifying in South America for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, he has already received a one-match ban from CONMEBOL for his red card against Chile, which means he will miss the first of those.
Argentina has two friendly matches lined up in the United States in September against Chile and Mexico and another in October in Germany.
Messi would miss these three, but would be free to play for his country again in November.
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