A furious Lionel Messi refused to be a part of the medal ceremony on Saturday night at the 2019 Copa America, after insisting there has been corruption at the tournament. Brazil’s winning captain Dani Alves has responded to his former FC Barcelona teammate.
Despite winning the third-place playoff against Chile on Saturday, the match was overshadowed when Messi and Chile defender Gary Medal were sent off for a clash in the first half.
After the game, Messi boycotted the medals ceremony, explaining that he “didn’t go to the podium because we shouldn’t be part of the corruption and lack of respect.”
The 32-year-old seemed to claim Brazil benefitted from the rereferring at the competition, claims that have been refuted by his ex-Barca colleague Alves, who captained the Selecao to a final win on Sunday night over Peru.
“I do not agree with what (Lionel Messi) said,” he said, according to ESPN.
“Here we have professional players who have worked a lot in this competition and who have fought for it.
“Deservedly Brazil eliminated Argentina in the semifinal. This is a very special achievement.
“We do not have to think about what other people say, even if it’s Messi.”
Source: Soccer Laduma
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Brazil win Copa America after 3-1 Win over Peru. Copa America hosts Brazil held on to win the Cup on home soil despite Gabriel Jesus’s dismissal with a 3-1 victory over Peru on Sunday.
Jesus scored the decisive goal after a penalty from Peru captain Paolo Guerrero cancelled out Everton’s opener for hosts Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.
A last-minute penalty from substitute Richarlison sealed a win for Brazil which handed the South American giants their ninth Copa triumph and first since 2007.
Jesus’s evening went sour 20 minutes from time as he was sent off for a second booking. read more
