Video: Lionel Messi, Gary Medel Red-Carded in Copa America Match After Scuffle

Lionel Messi and Gary Medel were both sent off in the first half of the 2019 Copa America third-place match between Argentina and Chile on Saturday.

The two players were given their marching orders on 37 minutes after a scuffle:

Messi challenged Medel as he was watching the ball run out of play for a goal kick, and the defender then turned around and barged into the Argentina captain (U.S. only):

The two reds cards came with Argentina leading the match 2-0 after early goals from Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala.

The decision to send Messi off came in for criticism:

As noted by Squawka Football, it was just the second red card of Messi's Argentina career:

Medel is known for being an intimidating defender, and he has received three red cards in 120 appearances for his country. He has been nicknamed the Pitbull during his career because of his aggression and physicality on the pitch.

Football writer Roy Nemer noted how the red cards could affect the players, although both teams could look to appeal the decisions after the match:

Messi has already complained about the standard of refereeing at the tournament after Argentina were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in the semi-finals.

The Albiceleste saw two penalty appeals turned down during the match without being referred to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and Messi told reporters after the defeat he thought the officials had favoured the tournament hosts.

"Referees gave so many stupid fouls in this Copa America but today VAR wasn't consulted once," he said. "This should be looked into and I hope CONMEBOL do something with these referees who unbalance the pitch by favouring a team."

Argentina subsequently sent a six-page letter of complaint to CONMEBOL after the defeat regarding the "serious and gross refereeing errors" during the match, per Alex Richards at the Mirror.

Messi has failed to shine at the Copa America despite coming into the tournament after a strong season with Barcelona in which he won La Liga and claimed the European Golden Shoe for the sixth time.

The 32-year-old told reporters after Argentina's win over Venezuela in the quarter-finals that the "truth is I am not doing my best Copa America or what I hoped to do."

His red card means that Messi's disappointing tournament will finish on a sour note, and the Argentina captain's controversial sending off is likely to overshadow the result of the match.