Referee Carlos Chandia recently revealed a remarkable story about how he refrained from giving Lionel Messi a yellow card during the 2007 Copa America semifinal in exchange for the Argentine superstar’s jersey.
In an interview on ESPN FShow on September 19, Chandia shared the details of this unusual incident. He explained, “Messi handled the ball in the middle of the field, and he deserved a yellow card. But I told him, ‘This foul deserves a yellow, but I’ll let it go if you give me your jersey,’ and I didn’t book him. Had Messi received another yellow card, he would’ve been suspended for the final.”
After the match, Messi attempted to give Chandia the jersey on the field, but the former Chilean referee asked to make the “exchange” in the locker room, and Messi complied. That jersey is now in the possession of Chandia’s son.
The Controversial Final Moments
The controversial incident occurred in the 93rd minute of the match, with Argentina leading Mexico 3-0 and both teams merely waiting for the final whistle. When a teammate lofted the ball to the center, Messi jumped as if he were a basketball player and caught it with his hands. Although Chandia was nearby, he simply blew the whistle to end the match, without issuing a yellow card.
Messi had already received a yellow card earlier in the tournament, and another would have disqualified him from the final. Chandia believes his decision to let Messi off with a warning resulted in him being removed from consideration to officiate the final between Argentina and Brazil. According to Chandia, Brazil filed a complaint about the incident, which led to his exclusion.
Messi Couldn’t Save Argentina from Brazil Defeat
Messi’s presence in the final couldn’t prevent Argentina from suffering a 3-0 loss to Brazil, with goals coming from an own goal by Roberto Ayala and strikes by Julio Baptista and Dani Alves.
Since joining Argentina’s national team in 2004, Messi has enjoyed a storied international career, winning every major honor. His trophies include the 2022 World Cup, Copa America 2021, 2024, an Olympic gold medal in 2008, the 2005 U20 World Cup, and the 2022 Intercontinental Super Cup. Messi also holds the record for most goals for Argentina, with 109 goals in 187 appearances.
This fascinating anecdote about Chandia’s “deal” with Messi adds another layer to the football legend’s remarkable career.
