Argentina head coach, Edgardo Bauza, has criticized FIFA for
handing Lionel Messi a four-game ban just six hours, before his side were
beaten 2-0 by Bolivia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Juan Carlos Arce and Marcelo Martins scored as Bolivia won
comfortably at the Estadio Hernando Siles, jeopardising Argentina’s hopes of
qualifying.
However, much of the pre-match talk centred around their
captain, who was banned for four international matches for abusing an assistant
referee during last Thursday’s win over Chile.
“When the rumour began to settle, the concern began to take
on more volume,” Bauza said following the loss.
“It seemed strange that in one day everything could be done,
that we did not have time to make an appeal.
“We did not have time to work with someone else. Now the
corresponding procedure for the appeal is being processed.”
With Colombia and Chile both winning, Argentina slipped to
fifth in the South American qualification race.
Speaking about the Bolivia match, Bauza admitted his team
did not play well in the first half.
“We try to get prominence to Bolivia, the second half the
team improved slightly,” he added.
“Bolivia won well. We must think in what’s coming. We are
alive and wanting to qualify for the World Cup.
“We know that this is going to be a struggle and we will
keep fighting.”
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