# Why a Referee Didn't Book Messi at the 2007 Copa América

- Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2119442022482202647
- Source account: [@TMfutbal](https://x.com/TMfutbal)
- Source language: Spanish
- Target language: English
- Duration: 1:13
- Published: 2026-11-08
- Machine translated. Check the original before quoting.
- Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica
- Original-language version: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/es/el-%C3%A1rbitro-que-no-amonest%C3%B3-a-messi-en-la-copa-am%C3%A9rica-2007.md

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica) It was hard for me not to referee the Copa América final because he—he was one yellow card away from missing the final of the 2007 Copa América, which was played in Venezuela.

[0:13](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=13) And the thing is, Messi was one yellow card away and I had added three minutes of—of stoppage time with Argentina leading Mexico three-nil, and Messi, out of nowhere, they passed him the ball and he handled it, but in midfield,

[0:29](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=29) with no chance of a goal for the team, for the Mexican team or anything like that.

[0:35](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=35) I told him, “Well, this, this, this, this play deserves a yellow card, but it’ll cost you your shirt.”

[0:43](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=43) And no, I didn’t show him the yellow card, because there were two and a half minutes left and they were winning three-nil, so it would have meant costing him the chance to play in the final of the 2007 Copa América.

[0:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=53) So, in the end, this yellow card, for me, It meant I wouldn't referee the final of the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela.

[1:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=60) She wanted to take it off on the field. I told her, "No, no, no, no, no, I'll wait for her in the locker room.

[1:05](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=65) No, no," I said, "I'll wait for her in the locker room."

[1:07](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=67) And I— and she came to the locker room with the jersey, she went and left it there for me.

[1:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/0OsvsOKpW4ji/en/why-a-referee-didn-t-book-messi-at-the-2007-copa-am%C3%A9rica?t=70) I don't remember if she played with number eighteen.