In the world of football, where emotions run high and the players are usually the protagonists, sometimes the most curious stories come from those who have to maintain order on the pitch: the referees.
Recently, the former Chilean referee Carlos Chandia surprised everyone with a revelation that caused a lot of talk. According to the referee himself, in the Copa America 2007 decided not to expel Leo Messi in the semi-final against Mexico, in exchange for the Argentine star giving him his jersey at the end of the match.
This confession, which comes 17 years laterThe outcome of this match has shaken public opinion, sparking debate, indignation or laughter among football fans, depending on each person’s favouritism and how they want to interpret the statements.
The match in question took place on July 10, 2007 In Venezuela, at the Total Cachamay Entertainment Center, City of Guyana. Argentina face Mexico for a place in the Copa America grand final.
The Argentine team, led by Alfio Basilehad a promising generation of players, including a young Lionel Messiwho was just beginning to shine at FC Barcelona.
The meeting ended with a resounding 3-0 victory in favor of Argentina, with Messi scoring a memorable goal, sealing their place in the tournament final.
However, what was not known until now is that there was an incident in the final minutes of the match that could have changed Messi’s history in this Copa America.
The well-deserved expulsion
According to Chandía, in a game without consequences in the middle of the field, Messi touched the ball with his handwhich should have cost him the second yellow card and, consequently, the expulsion.
“Messi already had a yellow card and there were three minutes of added time left. They were winning 3-0 and there was no chance of the opposing team scoring,” Chandía said in a recent interview with ESPN. “I approached Messi and said to him: ‘This game is for yellow, but it will cost you your shirt‘”.
Chandía explained that he decided not to show Messi the second yellow card, thinking that an expulsion at that moment could have deprived him of the Copa América final, which was clearly a controversial decision since, even if it were not the case, Messi It could have been decisive in the final and it would have harmed Brazil who, despite the fact that the Argentine “10” could be fielded, ended up winning the title after a resounding 3-0 in the final.
“I didn’t show him the card because there were two minutes left and the match was already decided. Argentina were about to play the final, and I didn’t want to be the one to deprive Messi of that opportunity.“, admitted the former referee.
Chandía’s story doesn’t end there. At the end of the match, Messi approached him to fulfill his part of the “deal.” According to the referee, the Argentine player tried to give him the shirt on the pitch, but Chandía offered to do it in private.
“He told me he was going to give me the shirt right away, but I told him: ‘No, not here, you give it to me in the locker room’,” the referee recalls with a laugh. And so it was that after the match ended, Messi handed his shirt back to the locker room, fulfilling the promise he had made a few minutes earlier.
Chandía’s confession, while curious, has also sparked controversy. Many wonder whether it is ethical for a referee to ask for a gift in exchange for not applying a disciplinary sanction. Although the incident did not affect the outcome of the match and Messi was able to play in the final against Brazil – which Argentina would end up losing 3-0 – the fact that a referee conditioned his decision on a personal favor raises questions about the impartiality that should prevail in football.
Chandía, for his part, seems to take the situation with humor, although he recognizes that at that time he did not think about the possible repercussions that his decision could have. “He was a young boy, who was just beginning to stand out in world football. I did not think that this anecdote had such importance, but I see that now, 17 years later, people take it as something more serious,” commented the former referee.
