Paraguay Bans Messi and Argentina Jerseys?
With club football on a break, international football action is resuming. Argentina will play two World Cup qualifying matches in November, with the first against Paraguay on November 15. However, the Paraguayan Football Federation has set a rule for this match.
The match against Argentina will be held at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Paraguay, starting at 5:30 a.m. Bangladesh time on November 15. The Paraguayan Football Federation has arranged to ensure that Argentina jerseys are not seen in the home stands during the match.
Messi has a massive fan following worldwide, including in Paraguay, so it’s common for fans to want to wear his jersey while cheering for their favorite player. However, the Paraguayan Football Federation has issued a warning about wearing the Argentine forward’s “number 10” jersey.
Fernando Villasboa, the federation's licensing manager, stated, “We have already warned that no one will be allowed into the local stands wearing a jersey other than Paraguay’s. Those wearing the opponent’s jersey will not be permitted to stay there.”
Not only Argentina's jersey, but Messi's “number 10” jersey is also prohibited. Fans wearing Inter Miami's “number 10” jersey, Messi's current club, will also be denied access to the home stands. This rule aims to minimize "Messi-mania" in the stadium.
Villasboa emphasized, “This is not a decision against any particular player. We respect all players' careers. This is simply for our home advantage, which is very important to us.”
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