 "Lionel Messi jerseys banned from stadium by Paraguay ahead of Argentina clash; Scaloni feels ban will not work")
How big is Lionel Messi’s impact can be gauged from the fact that Paraguay has banned jerseys bearing the Argentina footballer’s name from World Cup qualifiers between the two teams. Argentina take on Paraguay at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción on Thursday (5 AM IST on Friday in India).
Ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier at home, Paraguay’s football director, Fernando Villasboa, has announced anyone wearing the jersey of the Argentina national team, any Argentina football club, or any other foreign club with Messi’s name will not be allowed to enter the stadium.
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Why Paraguay banned Messi jerseys?
While explaining his decision to Radio La Red, Villasboa said: “No one is allowed to wear jerseys of the Argentina national team, Argentine clubs, or clubs with the names of foreign players. We want the Defensores del Chaco to be painted in the colors of the Albirroja to give the players the support they deserve from the stands, as we are all playing this game in our own way.”
The rule has been designed to target fans who could wear jerseys with Messi’s name on it. A similar rule was followed by Paraguay during their qualifier against Brazil at home when fans wearing Vinicius Junior jerseys were not given entry into the stadium.
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Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, meanwhile, has said that he has nothing to do with the rule. “I have nothing to do with the t-shirt ban. I had no idea about that. I think the idea is to reduce the margin of a possible source of conflict.”
Scaloni feels ban on Messi jerseys will not work
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni though is confident that there will be Lionel Messi jerseys in the stadium.
“Logically, for the Paraguayan footballer, for the fan, they all want to wear the national team shirt. But Leo (Messi) is stronger than all that and there will be Argentina shirts,” Scaloni told a news conference on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t mean they don’t support Paraguay. I think it’s good that football people recognise what he is. And it’s not because you have a shirt that you become an Argentina fan.
Argentina currently lead the qualifier standings in South American with 22 points, three points ahead of second-placed Colombia. Paraguay are sixth with 13 points.
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