Messi Could Face 2 Year Ban Over Corruption Accusations Against CONMEBOL Officials; Here Are 5 Reasons Why His Conspiracy Claims Is Completely Hypocritical!

5 Reasons Why Messi's conspiracy claims is absolutely hypocritical. 

The South American federation may step themselves so as to take matters into their own hands after Lionel Messi’s upheaval following his sending off against Chile.

Leo Messi accused the coordinators and referees at the Copa América of “corruption” when he spoke in the mixed zone after Argentina beat Chile 2-1 to take third place in the tournament being held in Brazil.

Messi had refused to collect his third-place medal and said that “the Copa is set up for Brazil, hopefully, the referees and the VAR won't influence things and they let Peru compete, but I think that's unlikely.”

The Argentina and Barcelona star had previously discussed "horse crap refereeing" after Argentina had been thumped out by Brazil in the semi-last, and he made reference to his remarks, saying he thought it was conceivable that what he'd said may have impacted his sending off.

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Messi's remarks could now see him facing a serious discipline from CONMEBOL, whose guidelines forbid offending in any methods or way CONMEBOL, its foundations or staff. Where the overseeing body does choose to make a move, Messi could face a boycott for as long as two years, which would see him miss not just the qualification for World Cup Qatar 2022, yet in addition the Copa América 2020 in Argentina and Colombia. CONMEBOL was clearly furious by Messi’s comments, releasing a statement in response to Messi’s words, in which they labeled them ‘unacceptable”.

The CONMEBOL statement states spoken allegations speak to an absence of respect for the competition, all the football players included and the several experts of CONMEBOL, organization that since 2016 has been eagerly attempting to straightforward, professionalize and develop South American football.

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What remains to be seen is if the federation would want to impose harsh measures to the region’s most high profile player for a significant length of time.

But keeping those facts aside, it isn't the first time football has been biased towards a team or a player. Messi too has been under sheer luck and favor by the game controllers in the past on numerous occasions; the majority of which has led him to stardom. 

So here we present you five of those incidents which prove why the Argentina talisman's recent accusation is absolutely hypocritical.

5. Brazil's Own Sufferings

Messi was furious after Argentina’s semi-final loss to eventual champions Brazil, feeling his team was snatched of two clear penalties.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva accused Lionel Messi of hypocrisy in the aftermath of his Copa America corruption claims, citing the Argentina star has been guilty of manipulating officials in the prior occasions.

Silva told reporters Messi was guilty of playing the officials when 'Paris Saint-Germain' conceded a 6-1 humiliation at Barcelona's hands during the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League round of 16:

"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 favor of Barcelona. I think you have to show respect."

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Silva's PSG were on the receiving end of what's been otherwise recollected as arguably the greatest comeback in European football history when Barca climbed back from a 4-0 first-leg deficit to win 6-5 on aggregate.

Silva's PSG and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos also echoed Silva's opinion, adding: "[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 favor with Barcelona. I did not hear him talk about corruption at that time."

Brazil manager Tite likewise criticized Messi for his accusations against the Copa America officiating, per ESPN FC:

Tite said his men were too hampered in a series of games, including the World Cup, ‘so be very careful. I’m responding directly, I’m responding to the greatness he has.’

Tite claims his men played clean against Argentina the whole time. He also wanted Messi to understand he was sent off unjustly and didn’t deserve it, but Gary Medel did it by all right.

Tite also reminded of Brazil having to deal with decisions going against them, including the harsh handball call on Thiago Silva that led to Peru’s equalizer from the spot.

4. Champion League 2010-2011 Semi Final.

Arsenal's Robin Van Persie was sent off just three minutes after the English side had scored a vital away goal to make it 1-1 in the second leg of their last 16 encounters.

The Dutch striker at that time received a second booking for allegedly kicking the ball away, despite his claim that he didn't hear the referee's whistle and his subsequent shot was one of genuine intent.

To Van Persie’s shock and many others watching on, the Dutchman still saw red.

Barcelona took advantage of the numerical and went on to win the match 3-1, resulting in a narrow 4-3 aggregate defeat for the gunners. Van Persie insists on never hearing the whistle.

3. Pepe's The Usual Victim

 The 2011 semi-final between Real Madrid and Barcelona had three moments; The red card for Pepe, Messi's goal, and the subsequent Jose Mourinho press conference.

"Why? Why?", was the question the Portuguese repeated, one that still echoes in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Five years later, it is still argued whether the straight red cards for Pepe and Alves were fair.

2. Champions League 2015-2016 Quarter Final 

In the quarter-final (first leg) of Champions League 2015-2016, Felix Brynch expelled Fernando Torres from Camp Nou where Atletico Madrid had to protect their 1-0 advantage for the best part of an hour.

It was ironically Torres who had given the team from the capital the lead.

Simeone's outcries from the touchline were to no avail, as he desperately tried to remind the heads that in the Champions League a team is often not reduced to 10 men.

Barcelona overturned the game from there on, sealing a 2-1 victory thanks to a second-half brace from Luis Suarez; not to mention against the ten men Atletico.

1. Vs Chelsea 2008-2009

The referee of Chelsea’s fateful Champions League semi-final face-off against Barcelona in 2009 has admitted to making a series of mistakes at Stamford Bridge, accepting that he “cannot be proud” of his notorious performance.

Tom Henning Ovrebo denied four penalty appeals by Chelsea as Andres Iniesta thumped a late equalizer that ultimately put Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona through to the Champions League final on away goals.

Ovrebo received several death threats from furious Chelsea supporters and was hounded by Chelsea players after the final whistle on the night, with Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa both receiving subsequent bans for detesting.

The match remains one of the most controversial refereeing performances in the history of football.