Lionel Messi and Argentina FA Hit with Legal Action Over Missed Match
Football icon Lionel Messi and the Argentina Football Association (AFA) are reportedly facing a substantial lawsuit following Messi's absence from an international match last year. According to reports from American outlet TMZ, the legal action has been filed in South Florida by VID, a promotional company specialising in sports and music events.
Details of the Contract and Alleged Breach
The lawsuit centres on a $7 million (£5.3 million) agreement signed between VID and the AFA in August last year. This contract granted VID exclusive rights to two Argentina friendlies scheduled for October, against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. A key stipulation of the deal was that Messi, who has earned 198 caps for Argentina, was required to play a minimum of 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured.
However, during Argentina's victory over Venezuela at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, Messi was observed watching from a private suite alongside his family, rather than participating on the pitch. VID alleges they covered the cost of this suite. Notably, the day after the Venezuela match, Messi scored twice for Inter Miami in a 4-0 MLS win over Atlanta United.
Messi, now 38, did subsequently feature in Argentina's 6-0 triumph against Puerto Rico a few days later. Nevertheless, VID contends that Messi's failure to play against Venezuela constitutes a breach of contract and fraud, forming the core of their legal claim.
Additional Claims and Financial Losses
The promotional company further asserts it suffered over $1 million in losses due to the Puerto Rico fixture being relocated. Originally set for Chicago's Soldier Field, which has a capacity of 61,500, the match was moved to the 21,550-seat Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Conflicting explanations have emerged regarding this venue change. An AFA executive reportedly cited former President Donald Trump's immigration policies in Chicago as the reason, while Chicago officials attributed it to poor ticket sales. VID claims the AFA promised to compensate for this disruption with matches in China this year, but these have not occurred amidst a congested international schedule, including the upcoming World Cup in the United States.
Legal Demands and Response
As a result, TMZ reports that VID is seeking full reimbursement for all financial damages incurred. The company's lawsuit alleges both fraud and breach of contract against Messi and the AFA. Representatives for Messi and the Argentina Football Association have been approached for comment regarding these allegations, but no official statement has been released at this time.
This legal development highlights the complex commercial agreements surrounding high-profile international football matches and the significant financial stakes involved for promotional entities. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for similar contractual disputes in the sports industry.
