Yassine Chueko, the bodyguard of soccer superstar Lionel Messi, has been barred from entering the playing field during the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final clash between Inter Miami and Monterrey.
Despite the ban, Chueko will still have access to the locker room and mixed area, as reported by The Mirror.
The decision to sanction Chueko stems from events following the first leg of the fixture held in Miami on April 3, which saw Monterrey secure a crucial 2-1 away victory, gaining an advantage in the quest for a spot in the semi-finals.
Following the match, tensions escalated between Lionel Messi, who missed the game due to injury, and the manager of the Mexican team, Fernando Ortiz, along with assistant coach Nico Sanchez.
The altercation was triggered by Ortiz’s pre-game remarks insinuating biased officiating in favor of Miami.
Sanchez’s derogatory comments directed at Messi, labeling him a “possessed dwarf with the face of the devil,” further fueled the confrontation, as per The Mirror.
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It appears that Messi’s bodyguard, also responsible for the security of the superstar’s family, became involved in the altercation, leading to the ban on his entry to the playing field.
Despite the off-field drama, Lionel Messi is poised to feature for Inter Miami in the crucial must-win encounter against Monterrey.
