A Mexican politician has called on the country’s parliament to officially declare Lionel Messi ‘persona-non-grata’ as the World Cup row over the Argentine captain kicking their shirt continues to rage.
Influential transgender campaigner Maria Clemente Garcia Moreno has tabled a motion for official condemnation of Messi after he appeared to boot away the shirt he had accepted from Mexico captain Andreas Guardado at the end of Mexico’s 2-0 defeat in the group stages.
Boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez threatened to teach the Paris Saint-Germain star a lesson - until it was explained to him that it was an accident and that Messi meant no disrespect. But Moreno has now submitted a motion demanding that the Mexican government makes their anger official.
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.”
Messi, who is preparing for Argentina’s quarter-final clash with Holland on Friday, would not be allowed to enter Mexico if the motion is ratified. Alvarez was incensed when he saw footage of Messi moving Guardado’s shirt with his foot.
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He accused the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner of using it to clean the dressing room floor. Alvarez later apologised for his outburst and the threats he made 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!" he had 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.”
The superstar was also defended by Mexico star Andres Guardado, whose shirt it was that Messi appeared to kick. Guardado hit back at Alvarez and insisted Messi had done nothing wrong.
"I know the person Messi is. It's a deal with the staff that when it's all sweaty, it gets left on the floor. Be it your jersey or rival. Canelo doesn't know what a dressing room is. It seems silly to me. That shirt was mine, I exchanged it with Leo," he told TyC Sports.
Mexico were knocked out in the group stages, having been defeated 2-0 by Argentina in their second game. Argentina meanwhile have reached the quarter-finals, in large part thanks to Messi's inspiring performances.
