Argentina Lionel Messi helped Argentina in their world cup qualifier match against Colombia with a 3-0 winon Tuesday night/Wednesday morning but that’s not what caught the headlines-the Barcelona star organized a march with his Argentine teammates to the post match press conference and informed the journalists present that he and his teammates will not give any briefings, interviews or communication to the media till further notice.
Messi’s shocking revelation comes after Argentine press accused Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi of smoking marijuana at the Argentina training ground the day before the Colombia match coupled with numerous reports blasting Messi for not performing for his country the way he performs for his club side.
Messi said in a statement:
“Hello, good evening, excuse me, but this is a small one. We prefer to look at the face before giving a statement. As you know, because we know everything here, we are telling you that we will not talk to the press anymore, obviously you should know why. Accusations and lack of respect and we never said anything, but this goes beyond everything. The accusation to Pocho (Lavezzi) is very serious and if we do not go out to say anything it is believed that it is true”.
“We’d rather cut this one down. We are very sorry that it has to be this way, but we have no other choice. We know that many of you are not in the game of lacking respect, you can lose, win, play good or bad, but get into one’s life … If we did not cut it today we would not cut it anymore.We know that most of you guys don’t play that game of disrespect. We can be criticised if we lose, or win, or if we play well or badly. But this is getting into personal lives.
‘If we don’t put a stop to it now, we’ll never stop it.’ It’s very serious and we are here, and we will not get into that game. We are going to keep saying a million things. That said. A million thanks”.
An Argentine Journalist Gabriel Anello of Radio Mitre, tweeted that Lavezzi was left out of the Argentina squad for the Colombia match due to his use of Marijuana but the player has denied the claims saying he’ll take the journalist and media house to court.
Anello Tweeted:
“Lavezzi is left off the substitutes’ bench tomorrow because of the joint that was smoked last night in the camp? I’m asking… just asking.”
Lavezzi responded:
“I have hereby communicate that I’m going to initiate legal action against Gabriel Anello for his false declarations against my person, for the serious damage that they have caused to my family and in my work.”
