CONMEBOL suspended Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Chile coach Ricardo Gareca for one match Friday for arriving late to the field of play during Copa America matches.
Scaloni will not be allowed to coach or sit on the bench during Saturday’s Group A finale against Peru, nor Gareca against Canada.
CONMEBOL said Scaloni’s team was late returning to the field after halftime in each of its first two group stage matches, wins over Canada and Chile. Gareca’s team was guilty of the same infraction, according to the governing body.
Argentina assistant coach Walter Samuel will fill in for Scaloni on Saturday against Peru. He told reporters Friday that Scaloni is “upset” with the discipline.
“He is upset because we consider ourselves an upstanding coaching staff and in six years in charge, we have not had sanctions like these, so it is upsetting,” Samuel said. “… If we were late coming out, it was not to gain any kind of advantage. But we have to accept the punishment and move on.”
Argentina is already through to the knockout stage and can win Group A with one more point. Chile needs to win and get some help in order to grab the second berth out of Group A.
Scaloni, 46, led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. Gareca, 66, was the longtime manager of Peru’s national team before taking over in Chile this year.
Argentina will also be without Lionel Messi on Saturday as he rests a groin/adductor injury.
–Field Level Media
