Referee shockingly confesses to have spared Messi of a red card in exchange for his match-worn jersey
A former referee has admitted to have spared Lionel Messi from a second yellow card in return for his match-worn shirt.
Chilean refereee, Carlos Chandía, has confessed to having purposefully avoided giving Messi a booking. And all in the plan to receive the Argentine’s jersey at the end of a match.
Chandía was in charge of the 2007 Copa America semifinal match between Argentina and Mexico, with the Albiceleste blowing past El Tri with a 3-0 scoreline. 20-year-old Messi scored a beautiful lob to seal his country’s spot in the final.