The referee says he is rooting for Argentina in the Copa America to get Lionel Messi’s jersey

A former official has admitted that he or she asked for Lionel Messi’s Argentina jersey during a Copa America game.





Two months after Lionel Messi won his second Copa America title with Argentina, Carlos Chandia, a former FIFA referee, admitted that he gave the famous Inter Miami player extra time in the 2007 Copa America semifinals in return for his jersey.

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In 2007, Argentina had a great year. La Albiceleste was trying to win their first continental title in 14 years. They had stars like Carlos Tevez, Juan Sebastian Veron, and Juan Roman Riquelme around Messi.


Chilean referee Carlos Chandia set up a knockout match between Messi’s team and Mexico. During the tournament, they scored 16 goals and gave up only 3. After many years, the official admitted that he helped Argentina in a controversial play involving the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner.


“All of a sudden, Messi picks up a ball and touches it with his hand, but it’s in the middle of the pitch.” The Mexican team didn’t have a chance to score or do anything like that. I told him, “This play gets you a yellow card, but you will lose your jersey.” It was 3-0 with two and a half minutes left, and I didn’t show him the yellow card, Chandia told ESPN FShow in Chile.


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