Lionel Messi (pictured right) received harsh criticism from Mexico. © APA / afp / GLYN KIRK
Mexican MP María Clemente García wants to have Lionel Messi declared “persona non grata” in her home country.
December 07, 2022
From: dpa/sn
The 37-year-old from the left-leaning Morena party made a request to the Foreign Ministry. But she shouldn’t have much of a chance with that. The politician accuses the captain of the Argentine national soccer team of contempt and a lack of respect for Mexico.
Garcia refers to scenes from the Argentinian dressing room after the 2-0 win in the group stage of the World Cup against Mexico, who had already let Mexican boxing world champion Canelo Álvarez get carried away with wild insults and a threat to Messi. The Argentine had accidentally touched a Mexican jersey lying on the ground with a shoe. After even Mexico’s team players did not see it as an affront, the highly decorated professional pugilist apologized sheepishly for his verbal attacks.
María Clemente García interprets the scene differently and finds that Messi “contemptuously kicked” the Mexican shirt. She is one of the first two transsexual MPs in Mexico and has already caused one or two scandals. Mexico had to return home after the group stage at the World Cup in Qatar.
