Argentina team manager Lionel Scaloni suspended from attending match as punishment

Lionel Messi to rest during Argentina vs Peru match on Saturday. — AFP/File

In a major blow to Argentina, star player and skipper Lionel Messi will be missing the team’s final Copa America group stage match on Saturday due to a right leg injury.

In addition, team manager Lionel Scaloni has been suspended from watching the Argentina vs Peru match from the sidelines as punishment for the team entering late on the pitch after halftime during the match against Chile, New York Post reported.

Along with the one-game suspension, the Argentina Football Association was fined $15,000.

Reacting to the news, Walter Samuel, an assistant coach and former defender for the national team, said to reporters, “Lionel is upset about this; we consider ourselves to be staff with a lot of professionalism.”

Furthermore, Samuel also gave an update on the Inter Miami player’s health, saying, “Leo had an issue in the last match. He won’t be joining us in the next one. We’re going day by day and awaiting his evolution.”

La Pulga now has a couple of days to recover before playing in a quarterfinal matchup between Ecuador or Mexico, which will kick off on July 4 in Houston.

As per reports, due to Messi’s absence in the group final match, ticket prices have decreased by 22%.

Previously, Argentina vs Peru was the most-in-demand ticket for the tournament.

Assistant coach Walter Samuel told a press conference that the Inter Miami superstar was “day-by-day” following an injury to his right adductor muscle, reports AFP.

“Leo had a problem in the last game, he won’t be there for this game,” Samuel said.

“We are going to go day-by-day waiting for its evolution.”

Samuel, meanwhile, played down the impact of Messi’s absence on the rest of the team.

“The team has always proven to be up to the task before when he wasn’t there,” said Samuel, hinting that veteran Angel Di Maria may start in place of Messi.

Argentina have already booked their place in the quarter-finals after wins against Canada and Chile in their opening two matches.

A draw in Saturday’s game against Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will guarantee Argentina qualify for the last eight as group winners.

Argentina is expected to rest several first-choice players against Peru, although Samuel insisted on Friday the world champions would seek a win.

“Peru has top players; we are taking this game with the utmost seriousness,” said Samuel, who will be in charge on the bench with coach Lionel Scaloni serving a one-game suspension.

Scaloni and Argentina were sanctioned after the team were late to emerge for the second half in their games against Chile and Canada.

Samuel said Scaloni was “a little bitter” about the suspension.

“We consider ourselves a correct coaching staff and in all these years we’ve never had these kind of sanctions,” Samuel said.