South American soccer body CONMEBOL has handed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi a three-month ban and a $50,000 (€45,000) fine after he accused the confederation of "corruption" during this year's Copa America tournament in Brazil, Deutsche Welle reports.
The ban will prevent the Barcelona forward from participating in four international friendlies in September and October, including an exhibition against Germany in Dortmund on October 9. The 32-year-old has already been barred from participating in Argentina's first World Cup qualifiers next month because of a red card he picked up against Chile in the Copa America.
Messi was sent off during the Copa America third-place match in July after a first-half shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who was also ejected. It was only the second time in the Argentine forward's career that he had been sent off.
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