Anti-Messi law.. Paraguay takes measures before facing Argentina

The Paraguayan Football Association has taken strict decisions before its national team's match against Argentina in the Latin American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the victim of which is the "Tango" star Lionel Messi.

Paraguay will host Argentina at dawn next Friday (2:30 Mecca time) at the "Defensores del Chaco" stadium in the capital Asuncion, in the 11th round of the World Cup qualifiers.

The Spanish newspaper "AS" called the strict rules imposed by the Paraguayan Federation before the match the "anti-Messi law", which stipulates that fans wearing a shirt bearing the name of the Argentine star will be banned from entering the stadium.

"Those fans wearing Argentina, Barcelona or Inter Miami shirts with Messi's name on them will not be allowed into the stadium," Fernando Villasboa, director of licensing at the Paraguayan Football Association, said in a radio interview.

"We will not allow entry to anyone wearing the shirt of Argentina, Argentine clubs, or clubs bearing the names of players from other countries," he added.

"We would like to warn fans in advance to avoid any unpleasant situations that could prevent them from entering the stadium. These shirts are only acceptable in the visiting fans' section provided they have a ticket, but this will be prohibited in the stands," Villasboa explained.

The football official continued, "I confirm that we will set up checkpoints around the stadium and at the gates to implement these measures, and anyone who violates these measures will be asked to leave the area calmly. All we are thinking about is filling the stadium with the colors of the Peruja (the colors of the Paraguayan national team) so that the players feel the great support from the stands."

Vinicius shirt banned

According to the Spanish newspaper, this procedure is not new in Paraguay, whose officials had previously done the same thing with Brazilian Vinicius Junior, the star of Real Madrid, in the match that brought the two teams together in the eighth round.

In the match that took place on September 11, fans wearing shirts bearing the name of the Brazilian star were not allowed in the stands.

Paraguay is ranked sixth in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with 13 points from 3 wins and 4 draws, a position that will qualify the team for the finals if it maintains it.

As for Argentina, it leads the standings with 22 points, 3 points ahead of Colombia, which is in second place. After the Paraguay match, Messi's teammates will host Peru in the 12th round, at dawn next Wednesday.

Source: Spanish Press