Lionel
Messi missed Barcelona's pre-season tour in the United States to take
a rest. However, it seems he can't take any day off. At least from
the controversies thrown at him.
After
being accused of taking a sumptuous pay to appear with Gabon
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, the Argentinian football superstar is
now being targeted by critics for allegedly 'disrespecting' Gabon
officials. He did it by greeting the president wearing only shorts
and his face unshaven.
ESPN
FC's Ian Holyman reported that some opposition officials in Gabon
were offended by Lionel Messi who they said did not have the interest
to prepare for the meeting. Union du Peuple Gabonese, Bongo's
political opposition, said in a statement:
“"The
messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo:
dirty, unshaven and his hands in his pockets, looking for peanuts to
throw to them!
"When
you're called Lionel Messi and you're a multi-billionaire, you don't
have the right to present yourself to officials of a republic, even a
banana one, with your hands in the pockets of a ripped, tattered pair
of shorts.
"Gabon
isn't a zoo. We don't know what the Argentine came to Gabon for, but
we at least have the right to denounce his negligence and his lack of
respect for standards and principles. We are uneasy with Messi's
attitude and his attire. Only for these reasons, linked to respect
for the host country, do we condemn the footballer's indelicateness,
to say the least!"”
Lionel
Messi's visit alone already sparked controversy in Gabon. The
government 'firmly deny' that the Argentinian forward was paid money
and insisted he is in the country to grant the invitation from Pres.
Ali Bongo.
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