Messi is unhappy with the 2019 Copa referees, but the Brazilian believes the Barcelona man has previously profited from poor calls at club level
Thiago Silva says it is natural for Lionel Messi to be frustrated with the referee after losing, suggesting Paris Saint-Germain had similar feelings in defeat to Barcelona in 2017.
"Maybe I'm paying for what I said last time." the Barcelona star said.
Brazil defender Silva, responding to the comments, suggested Messi had benefited from such decisions in Barca's incredible 6-1 Champions League win over PSG two years ago.
"This is difficult for us to comment on," he said after Brazil's 3-1 final win over Peru. "Sometimes in defeat, we try to focus on other people.
"I think he did not say it out of spite, but we are sad because, in the game we lost 6-1 to Barcelona, he played the referee, which, in my opinion, was ridiculous.
"But we did not give a statement that the referee was in favour of Barcelona. I think you have to show respect.
"Brazil do not have five stars [from World Cup wins] at random - none of them have been stolen. It was played on the pitch."
Silva's PSG and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos added: "[Messi] is a good person, but his statements were unfortunate and we Brazilian players did not like that.
"We lost in the World Cup against Belgium and there were also refereeing errors in his favour with Barcelona. I did not hear him talk about corruption at that time."
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca also weighed in on Messi's outburst following the defeat to Brazil.
"Messi is an authoritative voice, that does not mean I agree with him," Gareca said. "I respect him a lot - not just the player but the person. He seems to be very focused.
"But apart from the opinion we have of Messi, we can agree or disagree with him.
"I like that we would know what we have to improve in South America, but that does not necessarily mean that there is corruption or that we are corrupt.
"There is more and more information from Europe, where our children and grandchildren know more and more European players, and it seems that we want to imitate them in everything.
"There are good things in Europe, but we also have good things in South American football, too. I would like to defend South American football.
"If you speak of corruption, you must have convincing evidence. Football is a game and an individual can go wrong."
lepdeklmor
294
At champion league 2017 there is no VAR but in copa there is VAR .so refree decision should be fair,which is not seen in copa this year.
Faoson
154
No player is greater than a team or tournament but Messi is greater than any players who walks on earth.... Messi has a point complaining about bad refereeing but speaking about CONMEBOL corruption is wrong I don't agreed with that or favouring Brazil. VAR was used to clear the confusions but why not used against Brazil vs Argentina is a questionable coz this things is there to check the confusions. Forget about penalty or not the referee didn't even check VAR twice in a match which Argentina claims a penalties. Messi spoke out of angers those words after receiving undeserved red card. Yes he should have a second thought but he spoke out of angers. He should be punished but 2 years ban is too much. And they need to ask questions to referee for not using VAR in semi which seems the referee favorism Brazil.....
princehans
112
messi has always had something to complain about. there was bad refereeing in the world cup against Nigeria. he didn't came up to talk against it BC it was in his favor. he is too childish n learn to grow up
danny7_ida
98
Messi is just giving silly excuses. If you look at him at Barcelona he is favored by the referees he goes around head butting people and insulting match officials with sometimes no card or a yellow card. I van remember a pretty season match against Roma where messi head butted and held the neck of a Roma player and not even a yellow was given. Hence insulted a match officials mother and no red card was given, but for Diego Costa a red card was shown. Let's not pretend that referees haven't favored he and Barcelona time and time again, this is just karma coming back to hunt him. What is it that he is complaining about the pitch? Isn't it the same pitch that all the other players from all the teams played on and some performed remarkably well. He was the one that talked about the pitches he used to playing in when he was in Argentina, he said that "they were in poor condition ", he said this when he was told that people say that he can't play on a wet night in stoke, his complains just showed us that he can't. Messi is a good player but he doesn't come close to pele, ronaldo and maradona. Messi can only perform at his best when he is playing in conditions that favour him. He Isn't good under pressure and can't play his best outside Barcelona. He is talking about penaties that weren't given to him, what about the penalties that were awarded to Barcelona against psg. What about the penalty that was given to Barcelona against Madrid in Spanish super cup, also when ronaldo too was wrongfully red carded. This is all karma. Let him just keep quiet and play his football Instead of giving useless, baseless excuses and accusations
Cosmos-1
95
This has nothing to do with Barcelona or PSG and it is not about Messi fans!!! I followed this Copa America throughout to the final and these are the two main talking points I observed; 1. The condition of all the playing grounds were very bad. Did any anyone observe that? 2. VAR wasn't in place for the match between Brazil and Argentina. Why was it so? So far African Cup of Nations' is far best without controversies as compare to Copa America. Thanks
Rukaeklmz
56
what Messi said is lot more important. but what happend is not. no body talks about what happend. VAR not used. red card given. Who will take the responsibility? none.but messi took the responsibility alone. its called honesty.
Diarra17
44
after winning you open your mouth to say sum? Why dont you say it corrupted. at that time there wasn't much VAR at this time there is VAR based on lies and so. and speaking of which, country and club ain't the same, what you achieve in country is not the value as you achieve in clubs that's what you forgot. You happy because you've win it easily and been helped by the referees. the two penalties were claer had to be given but why didnt he gave it? 50-50% fouls were mostly given to the Brazilian explain why. i cant say it all but JUST SHUT UP AND DONT TALK BECAUSE YOU'VE RECEIVED HELP AND YOU WIN IN FAVER PERIOD
MarkWalters
39
No player is greater than a team or tournament but Messi is greater than any players who walks on earth.... Messi has a point complaining about bad refereeing but speaking about CONMEBOL corruption is wrong I don't agreed with that or favouring Brazil. VAR was used to clear the confusions but why not used against Brazil vs Argentina is a questionable coz this things is there to check the confusions. Forget about penalty or not the referee didn't even check VAR twice in a match which Argentina claims a penalties. Messi spoke out of angers those words after receiving undeserved red card. Yes he should have a second thought but he spoke out of angers. He should be punished but 2 years ban is too much. And they need to ask questions to referee for not using VAR in semi which seems the referee favorism Brazil.....
Viaacdelsy
35
If you said that Messi is wrong by saying that CONMEBOL , You shouldn't have been asking about the use of VAR in Brazil against Argentina, Two opportunities to turn the match to what it have been but non is called upon,While there's VAR , The organisation know what they are doing and they are just trying to cover up, If the organisation is pretty good at least one of the two penalty should be given, We all are now talking because we are not in the shoe that Messi and Argentina teammates where but to qualify my comments there's nothing else then corrupt organisation that is the South America organisation baptism name
mamba26
12
At champion league 2017 there is no VAR but in copa there is VAR .so refree decision should be fair,which is not seen in copa this year.
Messi is a whinging little germ, showing his true colours.... Can't stand up when it matters so now he blames the referee and cries corruption. Pathetic
Mrdiscussion
9
No player is greater than a team or tournament but Messi is greater than any players who walks on earth.... Messi has a point complaining about bad refereeing but speaking about CONMEBOL corruption is wrong I don't agreed with that or favouring Brazil. VAR was used to clear the confusions but why not used against Brazil vs Argentina is a questionable coz this things is there to check the confusions. Forget about penalty or not the referee didn't even check VAR twice in a match which Argentina claims a penalties. Messi spoke out of angers those words after receiving undeserved red card. Yes he should have a second thought but he spoke out of angers. He should be punished but 2 years ban is too much. And they need to ask questions to referee for not using VAR in semi which seems the referee favorism Brazil.....
The referee didn't check VAR because he know what happened wasn't a penalty.. must he check VAR when he's fully aware of what happened. This is football, you win some and lose some. When you lose, don't look for someone to blame. That's being childish or weak. Did Argentina scored a goal and the referee cancelled it? In Russia last year against Nigeria, the referee checked VAR and didn't award the penalty. No one blame FIFA for corruption, now Karma hits hard he's accusing organizer of corruption. 2 years ban has been stated in the code of conduct so he should face consequences of his actions.
Optimusmaximus
9
This has nothing to do with Barcelona or PSG and it is not about Messi fans!!! I followed this Copa America throughout to the final and these are the two main talking points I observed; 1. The condition of all the playing grounds were very bad. Did any anyone observe that? 2. VAR wasn't in place for the match between Brazil and Argentina. Why was it so? So far African Cup of Nations' is far best without controversies as compare to Copa America. Thanks
Your 2 major talking points are the 2 Messi complaints... are you sure you followed it or you followed Messi??
Amar_Cr7
8
At champion league 2017 there is no VAR but in copa there is VAR .so refree decision should be fair,which is not seen in copa this year.
man I can agree with you... but var doesn't change the situation of Argentina team.... it's not Messi it's the frustration of losing and it's normal... but accusing other team it's wrong... Columbia played really well in this tournament way better than Argentina but they leave quietly without accusing anybody they were frustrated too...
ficcdkorsu
8
At champion league 2017 there is no VAR but in copa there is VAR .so refree decision should be fair,which is not seen in copa this year.
So just because there is no check system it's fair? It was a pure robbery. We all saw from the TV at home how Suarez dived better than Michael Phelps. And the referee who was right there considered it was penalty.
Faoson
8
At champion league 2017 there is no VAR but in copa there is VAR .so refree decision should be fair,which is not seen in copa this year.
VAR was too busy cancelling offside goals or whatever until Argentina vs Brazil match means VAR is corrupt whether you like it or not.