FAI deny Messi payments

The Football Association of Ireland have issued a statement denying claims the national team players were offered money not to hurt Lionel Messi.

It was alleged by La Nacion, an Argentine publication, that the Ireland players would be paid $10,000 each to go easy on the Barcelona forward in a 2010 friendly.

The FAI have reacted strongly with a denial of the claim and may take legal action.

“The Football Association of Ireland completely refutes the allegations made about the Republic of Ireland v Argentina friendly match in La Nacion as baseless,” the statement begins.

“The match in question was organised by Kentaro and announced by press release prior to the World Cup play offs in 2009. 

“We are consulting our legal advisers in relation to the article, and will be taking further steps.”

It was alleged that the idea came from Julio Grondona, the then-head of the Argentine FA, who offered to send La Albiceste to a game in Ireland as further compensation for Ireland missing out on World Cup 2010 qualification after Thierry Henry’s handball goal.

Grondona, who died in July 2014, is alleged to have come up with the payment proposal to safeguard Messi’s fitness, as Barca were on a tour of Asia at the time of the friendly and wanted insurance taken out on the player.

Argentina were unable to get insurance and so Grondona turned to plan B, La Nacion claimed, now disputed by Ireland.

Tags Argentina FAI Ireland Lionel Messi
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