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Messi blasts VAR, accuses officials of Brazilian bias in rare tirade

Buda Mendes / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Usually soft-spoken, Lionel Messi lashed out at officials for their cavalier use of VAR and their supposed bias toward Brazil.

Messi was aggrieved with a number of decisions during Argentina's 2-0 loss to Brazil in Tuesday's Copa America semifinal, including an apparent foul in the penalty area that was not reviewed. On the ensuing play, the host nation marched up the field to score its second goal.

"(The officials) were tired of making bullshit calls at this Copa and they didn't go to VAR. It was unbelievable," Messi told reporters, according to ESPN.

"It was like that all match. It was bullshit that they were doing it all match. There is no excuse - it must be looked into. Hopefully, CONMEBOL does something about these kind of referees.

"Because we did everything to try and advance, but (the officials) stacked the deck against us. I don't believe they will do anything because Brazil controls everything, so it is very complicated. But I don't think we should feel bad for anything. It didn't happen and we had back luck."

Sergio Aguero reinforced Messi's views with a critical take on VAR, which denied seven goals in the Copa America quarterfinals.

"They told us VAR would be like a fifth referee, but when things turn out like this, I'd rather it wasn't there," Aguero said, according to Reuters.

Argentina last won a major international title at the 1993 Copa America.

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