Lionel Messi could face ban for entering Mexico after ‘kicking’ incident at 2022 FIFA World Cup
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As the controversy around the Argentine captain kicking their shirt at the World Cup rages on, a Mexican minister has urged the nation’s parliament to formally declare Lionel Messi “persona non grata.” After Messi seemed to kick away the shirt he had received from Mexico captain Andreas Guardado at the end of Mexico’s 2-0 defeat in the group stages, prominent transgender activist Maria Clemente Garcia Moreno filed a plea for public criticism of Messi.
Canelo Alvarez, the reigning boxing world champion, vowed to discipline the Paris Saint-Germain player until it was made clear to him that the incident was an accident and that Messi had no bad intent. However, Moreno has now filed a motion requesting that the Mexican government publicly express their outrage.
The document states: “The Chamber of Deputies of the Honorable Congress of the Union respectfully urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the corresponding Declaration in order to declare persona non grata within of the territory of the United Mexican States to the citizen of Argentine and Spanish nationality, Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini, due to his manifest contempt and lack of respect towards Mexico during the World Cup of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) on Saturday, November 26, 2022.”
Lionel Messi was also threatened by Mexican boxer after ‘kicking’ incident
If the motion is approved, Messi, who is preparing for Argentina’s quarterfinal match against Holland on Friday, would not be permitted to enter Mexico. When Alvarez watched video of Messi kicking Guardado’s shirt, he became furious. He stated that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had cleaned the dressing room floor with it. Later on, Alvarez expressed regret for his outburst and the threats he had posted on social media.
“Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag,’ Alvarez tweeted. ‘He better pray to God that I don’t find him. Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!” Canelo tweeted. Messi insisted: “Anyone who knows me knows that I never disrespect anyone. I don’t have to apologise because I did not disrespect the Mexico shirt or anyone.”
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Sujeeth Shetty
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