A former FIFA referee has made the shock admission that he once did Lionel Messi a favour during a game just to get the Argentine superstar's shirt at the end of the match.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has no shortage of admirers, with countless fans, players, and managers believing he is the greatest footballer to have ever graced the pitch.
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In a shock revelation, however, it now seems some referees are also huge admirers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, with one former official making a bombshell admission this week, revealing that he purposely turned a blind eye to Messi's conduct during an important match in order to get his jersey after the full-time whistle.
Former FIFA referee Carlos Chandia has explained that he willingly refused to give Messi a yellow card after the player deliberately handled the ball during the semi-final between Argentina and Mexico at the 2007 Copa America.
"Out of nowhere, Messi lifts a ball and touches it with his hand, but it's at midfield," the Chilean former official told ESPN FShow in Chile.
"There was no goalscoring chance for the Mexican team or anything like that.
"So, I told him: 'This play is a yellow card, but it will cost you your jersey.'
"And I didn't show him the yellow card; there were two and a half minutes left, and the score was 3-0.
"Showing him the yellow card would have taken away his chance to play in the Copa America final.
"In the end, that yellow card cost me the opportunity to referee the 2007 Copa America final in Venezuela.
"He went to leave the jersey in the dressing room afterward.
"In fact, he wanted to take it off on the field, and I told him: '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."
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Notably, after winning three 3-0 against Mexico in that semifinal, Argentina would go on to lose the final 3-0 to Brazil.