Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Chile coach Ricardo Gareca received one-game suspensions and won’t lead their national teams in their final Copa America group-play matches on Saturday, CONMEBOL announced Friday.
Scaloni and Gareca were disciplined for game delays during their match last Tuesday, which Argentina won 1-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Argentina and Chile must also pay a $15,000 fine to CONMEBOL for the infraction.
The suspension adds intrigue to Argentina’s match Saturday against Chile, where both Scaloni and star Lionel Messi will be absent at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Messi has been ruled out due to discomfort from a right groin/abductor injury he sustained in the Chile match.
Argentina has advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals with six points in Group A, following wins over Canada and Chile.
Chile, however, enters its final match against Canada on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando without its coach and just one point in the group standings. Canada has three points, while Chile and Peru have one point each.
