Referee Admits he Didn’t Book Lionel Messi in Exchange for his Shirt

In a surprising revelation, former FIFA referee Carlos Chandia has admitted to favouring Lionel Messi during the 2007 Copa America semi-final in exchange for the Argentine star’s match-worn jersey. Chandia revealed that he chose not to issue Messi a yellow card for a handball in midfield, which would have suspended him from the final against Brazil. Instead, Messi was allowed to play in the tournament’s finale in Venezuela, but at the cost of his shirt.