Copa América

The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) has asked Copa América organizers to suspend the referee from their 2-1 defeat by Brazil, saying he prejudiced the result by not halting play when the ball hit him in the lead up to a goal.

Néstor Pitana, the Argentine who refereed the 2018 World Cup final, waved play on when the ball bounced off him outside Colombia's box and Brazil continued passing for Roberto Firmino to head in an equalizer.

On Monday evening in Brasília, Lionel Messi became Argentina’s joint-most capped player by equaling Javier Mascherano’s total of 147. Messi’s journey with La Albiceleste began in 2005, when he was just 18 but already world-renowned as Barcelona’s youngest-ever scorer and Ronaldinho’s heir apparent.

But it was Messi’s fellow 33-year-old, Papu Gómez — receiving just his sixth cap and only third start — who proved the difference in Argentina’s 1-0 group stage victory over Paraguay at the Copa América.

ASUNCION — Bolivia striker Marcelo Martins has been banned for one game and fined $20,000 by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) after criticising the organisation for hosting the Copa America in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic.

Martins was one of three Bolivia players who tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of their 3-1 opening loss to Paraguay.

He missed the game and posted some sharp words on social media about CONMEBOL’s last-minute decision to host the tournament in Brazil, a nation that has seen almost 500,000 people die from the virus.