Brazil defender Thiago Silva has dismissed Lionel Messi’s claims that CONMEBOL wanted Brazil to win this year’s Copa América
Messi was upset after Argentina were denied two penalties in the semi-final defeat to Brazil. Messi was also sent off in the third-place playoff against Chile on Saturday.
It led him to suggest the competition had been set up for Brazil to win. These claims were brushed off by Seleção defender Thiago Silva.
“It’s hard to comment, because sometimes when you have that sort of defeat, you try to focus on other factors. You do not mean it, but you say it,” he told ESPN Brasil.
“We are sad, because in the 6-1 (defeat by PSG to Barcelona), the referee had a ridiculous game, but we did not give this statement. You have to respect history too.”
Silva was penalised for a first half handball in the final against Peru that enabled the Peruvians to equalise from the penalty spot.
Thiago felt the call was harsh on him, “I was arguing that my hand was on the ground when they went to VAR. it is impossible to fall down without putting your hands on the ground.”
