A lot of people tuned into the Copa America final hoping to see a spectacular soccer match between Chile and Argentina. Instead, they got to see a referee intent on putting on a big show. Brazilian official Heber Lopes went wild, sending off a player for each team and showing a yellow card to Lionel Messi for diving as well.
The ref has taken over the Copa America final, will give cards for any reason
It’s a joke.
Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz earned his first yellow card for hacking down Messi, but his second was controversial. He was booked for this foul, which mostly featured him standing still and Messi running into him. Some referees wouldn’t even call him for a common foul, or would have called it on Messi.
Credit: user DarkNightSeven on r/soccer
Messi’s dive isn’t necessarily a terrible call, but Argentina fans won’t be thrilled with what led up to it. At first, Lopes didn’t appear to be reaching for his pocket, but the Chile players rushed him and got in his face. After taking a tongue-lashing, he showed Messi the yellow.
Credit: user DarkNightSeven on r/soccer
The worst call of them all might have been the red to Marcos Rojo. He committed a foul on Arturo Vidal, but it looked like a pretty common one. Maybe it could have been a yellow card. But the referee opted to hand him a straight red, leaving people to wonder if it was a make-up call.
Credit: user DarkNightSeven on r/soccer
At least it’s 0-0 at halftime and both teams have 10 men, so no one team has unfairly benefitted from the poor officiating. But the officiating has still been a joke.
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