A former referee has confessed asking for Lionel Messi's Argentina jersey during a Copa America match. Two months after Lionel Messi lifted his second Copa America trophy with Argentina, former FIFA referee Carlos Chandia admitted favoring the Inter Miami icon in the 2007 Copa America semifinals in exchange of his jersey.

Chilean official Carlos Chandía has explained why he decided against giving Messi a yellow card, which would have seen him miss the 2007 final.

Cristiano Ronaldo fans will be livid after a former referee has admitted to favouring Lionel Messi during a major tournament.

As reported by The Mirror, Chandia said on the ESPN FShow: “Out of nowhere, Messi lifts a ball and touches it with his hand, but in the middle of the pitch. There was no goal-scoring chance for the Mexican team or anything like that. So, I told him: 'This is a yellow card, but it will cost you your jersey,' and I didn’t show him the yellow card.

Lionel Messi could have been omitted from the 2007 Copa America final, but referee Carlos Chandia let him off the hook so he'd get his match-worn jersey.

Former referee Carlos Chandia has shockingly admitted that he spared Lionel Messi from a yellow card after making an agreement that he could have his match-worn shirt.

It has been revealed that Lionel Messi once struck a mid-game shirt deal with a Copa America referee that allowed him to avoid a ban for the final.