Messi handed 3-month ban

Asuncion, August 3

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Argentina star Lionel Messi was banned from playing for his national team for three months and fined $50,000 on Friday by CONMEBOL after he heavily criticized the South American football governing body during the Copa America.

The 32-year-old Barcelona forward had accused CONMEBOL of "corruption" after he was sent off against Chile during the third-place play-off during the tournament in Brazil, which ended last month.

The ban means only that Messi will miss a handful of friendly matches as Argentina's next competitive fixture is not until the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar begin in March. However, he has already received a one-game ban from CONMEBOL for his red card against Chile meaning he'll miss the first of those. Argentina have two friendlies lined up in the United States in September against Chile and Mexico and another in October, an away trip to Germany. Messi would miss all three of those but be free to play for his country again in November. The Barcelona superstar was angered by two incidents during the June-July Copa hosted by bitter rivals Brazil.

Argentina were denied two penalty claims in their 2-0 semifinal defeat to the hosts, after which Messi claimed Brazil were "managing a lot in CONMEBOL these days." And when he was harshly dismissed in the next game, which Argentina went on to win 2-1, he couldn't contain his anger.

"Corruption and the referees are preventing people from enjoying the football and they're ruining it a bit," Messi said.

He was given his marching orders after a first-half scuffle with Chile captain Gary Medel in which television pictures suggested he'd done little wrong. 

City seek perfect start 

Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to prepare for the "incredible challenge" of battling Liverpool for the Premier League title by landing an early blow against their rivals in tomorrow’s Community Shield. Guardiola's side pipped Liverpool to the Premier League by one point last season after a thrilling title race went down to the very last day.

The two clubs renew their growing rivalry when they meet at Wembley in the annual curtain-raiser to the English top-flight season this weekend. While City won an unprecedented English treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup last term, and are the bookmakers' favourites to win the title for a third successive year, Guardiola is well aware of the challenge likely to be posed by Liverpool. — AFP

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