The barbecue that Lionel Messi held on Monday for the entire selection of Barcelona may get a tail end. Competition organizer LaLiga has started an investigation into the attacker of Barcelona, it was announced on Tuesday. The barbecue in the garden of Messi’s villa may violate Spanish corona rules. Should the Spanish League’s COVID 19 protocol have actually been violated, LaLiga may refer the matter to the Spanish Football Association’s disciplinary committee.
Barcelona emphasized earlier this Tuesday that it is a private matter and that the club has in no way been involved in the barbecue of the Barcelona selection. “This is a private matter,” a spokesman for the Spanish title contender said in a response to Cadena SER. “The players are tested for corona several times a week and therefore together form a bubble. We can therefore actually consider this barbecue as a lunch during working hours.”
?? | Campeones! Campeones! Chants at Lionel Messi’s house.@ElGolazoDeGol through @ INIE8TAZOpic.twitter.com/TEcPbmO1OR
– Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) May 3, 2021
About 40 people were present at the barbecue organized by Messi on Monday. Although the festivities took place in the open air, the corona rules of Catalonia have indeed been violated. At the moment it is not allowed to get together with more than six people in the open air. Indoors, the limit is currently four people. A source within the Spanish federation reports on Tuesday ABC that violating the corona rules can have serious consequences for Messi and his teammates. “LaLiga protocols have been violated.”
Earlier this season, Sevilla and Sporting Gijon were investigated for violating the corona protocol in Spain. Some players from Seville, including Luuk de Jong, soon apologized for organizing a barbecue. Leader Atlético Madrid recently had a similar outing, although that is different, according to the source of the football association in Spain. “They had informed us in advance about what they were going to do. So we were aware of the party and all safety regulations were met. At Messi’s barbecue we found out through the media”, it sounds in conversation with ABC.
Immediately after the morning training at the training complex in Barcelona, the selection left on Monday for an extensive lunch to Messi’s home. It is more common for the group of players to eat together after training, but it is unique that the captain of Barça opens the doors of his house to have lunch together. Under the guise of hacer piña (freely translated: team building), the players and supporters enjoyed the 2-3 victory over Valencia.
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