August 8 – Conmebol has handed Manchester City and Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus a two-month international suspension and a £25,000 fine for his unruly behaviour during the Copa America final.
A temperamental Jesus was sent off with a silly second booking for barging into Peru’s Carlos Zambrano during Brazil’s Copa America final against Peru in July and his furious reaction has been punished by the South American governing body that is getting increasingly tough on its players for behaviour it doesn’t like.
The ban means he will not be available for Brazil’s two friendly matches against Colombia and Peru next month in the United States.
Before his second booking, Brazil coach Tite had been urging the Manchester City striker to calm down as he prepared to bring on Richarlison, but to little avail. On his way off Jesus smashed a water bottle, punched the VAR cabin and shoved a Conmebol pole. In the tunnel, Brazil’s number nine burst into tears.
Conmebol ruled that Jesus broke Articles 7.1 and 7.2 of the Disciplinary Rules for “behaving in an offensive, insulting or defamatory manner of any kind.” In the end Jesus’ sending off mattered little as Brazil ran out 3-1 winners to secure a ninth Copa America title and maintain a perfect record in Copa Americas staged on home soil.
Last week Conmebol banned Lionel Messi from the international game for three months and slapped him with a $50,000 fine after he had lashed out at the ruling body during the Copa America. The 32-year old accused Conmebol of corruption after Argentina’s elimination against Brazil in the semi-final and his sending off in the third-place play off against Chile.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713477787labto1713477787ofdlr1713477787owedi1713477787sni@t1713477787catno1713477787c1713477787