Argentina coach Scaloni has been suspended from the Copa America match against Peru for repeatedly arriving late

By The Associated Press on June 28, 2024.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni gestures during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Chile in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has been suspended for one match and will miss his team’s final Copa America group match against Peru on Saturday. Scaloni was suspended after Argentina returned late for the second half of its two Copa matches, a 2-0 win over Canada and a 1-0 win over Chile, CONMEBOL’s disciplinary committee said on Friday. Scaloni also cannot attend the post-match press conference. Later, Chilean coach Ricardo Gareca was also suspended for one match for the same reason. Chile will play Canada in Orlando on Saturday. Reigning Copa America champions Argentina have already secured a place in the knockout stages. Argentine aide Walter Samuel said during Friday’s news conference that Scaloni was “a bit bitter about the situation.” “We consider ourselves a proper coaching staff,” Samuel said. “In these six years (at work) we have almost never had this kind of sanction. (It is) a bit abnormal. He wanted to be with the team tomorrow.” Copa America rules say players must be on the pitch at the correct time after half-time and they will be warned after a first offence. The sanction came after the second violation. The Canadian players openly complained about Argentina’s late return for the second half of their match on June 20. Argentina needs a draw against Peru to secure top spot in Group A. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer 13
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