Revealed: Lionel Messi avoided yellow card by swapping jersey in 2007 Copa America, says ex-referee

During an interview with ESPN on the FShow, the ex-referee disclosed that he advised Messi to avoid receiving a second yellow card, even if it meant sacrificing his jersey in the process.

‘This is a yellow card, but it will cost you your jersey,’ and I didn’t show him the yellow card,” Chandia said per multiple outlets.

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During the semis clash, Argentina led the game by 3-0, with goals coming from Gabriel Heinze, Roman Riquelme and Messi. However, just before the final whistle, Messi fouled with a handball, with Argentina facing a potential threat of losing their emerging superstar for the final.

“There were two-and-a-half minutes left, and the score was 3-0. Showing him a yellow card would have taken away his chance of playing in the Copa America final,” the former referee said while noting the importance of the second yellow card.

Detailing what happened further and if Messi even obliged the referee's offer, Chandia said Messi gave him his jersey inside the dressing room; in fact, he wanted to give it on the field, but the referee denied it for obvious reasons.

“He gave me the shirt in the dressing room afterwards. In fact, he wanted to take it off on the pitch, and I told him: ‘No, no, no, no; take it to the dressing room’. And he came to the dressing room with the jersey and left it there for me,” Chandia continued.

Fortunately, Chandia’s decision to let Messi escape his second yellow card did not directly impact the final’s result as Brazil proved costly for Argentina, with Julio Baptista, Roberto Ayala and Dani Alves scoring for the eventual winners. 

Meanwhile, several years later, Lionel Messi emerged as the most decorated footballer ever, with 45 trophies – the most by any player in the game’s history. 

Besides winning Copa America several times since, Messi guided Argentina to its third World Cup title in 2022, where they beat France in a penalty shootout. 

(With inputs from agencies)