Furious Messi lashes out at ‘bulls***’ refereeing after Brazil controversially dump Argentina out of Copa America
FURIOUS Lionel Messi lashed out at “bulls***” refereeing during Argentina’s 2-0 Copa America semi-final defeat to Brazil.
Officials controversially opted not to use VAR for two blatant Argentina penalty shouts.
Messi, who came agonisingly close by hitting the post, raged: “They were not better than us. They found the net early and the second goal came from a penalty [to Aguero] they didn’t award.
“They [the officials] had booked a lot of bulls***, but they didn’t even check the VAR, that’s incredible.
“That happened all over the game. At the first glance of contact, they ruled in their [Brazil’s] favour and this kind of bulls*** distracted us from the game.
“There is no excuses for us, but we need to review this, analyse it and let’s hope Conmebol does something about it.
“I think we played a great game. We made a great effort and they were not superior to us.”
Messi heartbreak
Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring for Brazil but it was Roberto Firmino’s second that left Messi and Co seething.
Manchester City star Jesus intercepted a ball in his own half while Argentina appealed for a penalty, and burst forward to set up Firmino in the 71st minute.
Sergio Aguero was cynically tripped by Dani Alves in the box as he tried to latch onto a through ball by Messi before Brazil countered.
Nicolas Otamendi had also been brutally blocked off by Barcelona midfielder Arthur during a corner and was left in a heap on the ground.
Aguero fumed: “They told us that VAR would be like a fifth referee but when things turn out like this I’d rather it wasn’t there.
“I was running into the area and Alves stopped me with his foot, it was clear, so clear that Foyth stopped and waited for it to be given.”
The wait goes on for Barcelona superstar Messi, 32, to lift silverware with Argentina, having only managed to win the 2008 Olympics during his stellar career.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi flattered to deceive during the Copa America and scored just one goal against Paraguay.
