Copa América

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.

Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five international matches while several other players were also suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following Uruguay's Copa America loss to Colombia in July, South American soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.

Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for four games, while Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mathias Olivera each received three-game suspensions.

PARIS — New information from Soccer Canada showed suspended women's head coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the drone use that has caused a scandal at the Paris Olympics, Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker said on Friday.

The COC removed head coach Priestman on Thursday after her suspension by Canada Soccer. The decision followed complaints from New Zealand that Canada flew drones over two of their training sessions before the two sides met in their opening Olympic fixture, which Canada won 2-1.

The race for the upcoming Ballon d’Or is going to be close.

As anticipation builds for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, the battle for soccer’s most coveted individual award is shaping up to be thrilling. 

After a long 2023-24 campaign, paired with a summer full of international play with the Euros and Copa América, the number of contenders for the award has only increased.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa on Friday defended his players involved in a clash with Colombian fans after Wednesday's Copa America semi-final, saying "anyone would have reacted like that" to protect their families.

After Colombia sealed a 1-0 victory in Charlotte, North Carolina, Uruguay players climbed into the stands, apparently exchanging blows with opposition fans.

The CONMEBOL statement in response to the shocking fight from Wednesday that saw Uruguay players clashing with Colombian fans in the stands was… lackluster.

Soccer fans around the world were appalled by scenes of Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez exchanging blows with fans in the stands of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wednesday’s Copa América semifinal ended with Colombia defeating Uruguay 1-0 and Darwin Núñez punching fans in the stands of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The semifinal was another classic CONMEBOL clash that saw 24 fouls, six yellow cards and a red card. After the game tensions were high with the Colombians celebrating and Uruguay players and staff getting physical.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch said he was proud of what his squad had achieved at the Copa América despite Tuesday's semi-final defeat by Argentina after the North American underdogs put higher ranked teams in the shade on their tournament debut.

EAST RUTHERFORD — Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Copa America final after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi gave them a 2-0 win over Canada in Tuesday's semi-final in New Jersey.

Argentina have won a joint-record 15 Copa titles and reached the final six times in the past eight editions but Canada caused them problems in the opening 20 minutes, Jacob Shaffelburg twice shooting wide from promising positions.