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.

Two months after Argentina won the Copa America, a former FIFA referee has confessed to favouring Lionel Messi during the 2007 edition in exchange for his jersey.

A former referee has admitted that he once chose not to book Lionel Messi because he was desperate to get his shirt post-match. Carlos Chandia refereed the Copa America semi-final clash between

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.

FORMER referee Carlos Chandia has admitted to purposefully avoiding booking Lionel Messi in return for the superstar’s match-worn shirt. Chilean referee Chandia was in charge of the 2007

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.

Carlos Chandia has detailed that he skipped giving Lionel Messi a yellow card - which would have forced him to miss the 2007 Copa America final - in exchange for his match-worn jersey