Gabon denies paying Messi millions

AFP, LIBREVILLE: Gabon’s presidency on Tuesday denied paying four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi millions of dollars to lay the foundation stone for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations stadium last weekend.
“The Republic of Gabon denies having paid, or even promised to pay, such a sum of money to the Argentinian international footballer Lionel Messi,” the presidency said in a statement.
The 28-year-old multi-millionaire — who turned up unshaven, in a torn pair of shorts — travelled to Port-Gentil, the nation’s economic capital, at the invitation of President Ali Bongo, according to the statement. Messi “accompanied the head of state to Port-Gentil to lay the foundation stone for the town’s future stadium, in the perspective of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (which Gabon is hosting),” the statement added.
Messi’s presence at the event had caused controversy on social media, with many Gabonese questioning the cost of his visit to a country where over a third of the population live below the poverty line, despite the nation boasting oil riches.
The influential football weekly ‘France Football’ added fuel to the fire on Monday when it claimed the Barcelona maestro had received the 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) for his appearance.  The controversy surrounding Messi’s visit comes hot on the heels of the striker’s second huge disappointment in a major final with the national side when they lost on penalties to hosts Chile in the Copa America on July 4, after losing to Germany in extra-time of last year’s World Cup final.
“Good move or a communications coup for Ali Bongo?”, one person wondered on Twitter, under a photograph of the Gabonese president at the  wheel of a convertible Mercedes  Jeep driving through the crowds in Libreville, with Messi beside him in the passenger seat.

 

Gabon denies paying Messi millions

AFP, LIBREVILLE: Gabons presidency on Tuesday denied paying four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi millions of dollars to lay the foundation stone for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations stadium last weekend. The Republic of Gabon denies having paid, or even promised to pay, such a sum of money to the Argentinian international footballer Lionel Messi, the presidency said in a statement. The 28-year-old multi-millionaire who turned up unshaven, in a torn pair of shorts travelled to Port-Gentil, the nations economic capital, at the invitation of President Ali Bongo, according to the statement. Messi accompanied the head of state to Port-Gentil to lay the foundation stone for the towns future stadium, in the perspective of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (which Gabon is hosting), the statement added. Messis presence at the event had caused controversy on social media, with many Gabonese questioning the cost of his visit to a country where over a third of the population live below the poverty line, despite the nation boasting oil riches. The influential football weekly France Football added fuel to the fire on Monday when it claimed the Barcelona maestro had received the 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) for his appearance. The controversy surrounding Messis visit comes hot on the heels of the strikers second huge disappointment in a major final with the national side when they lost on penalties to hosts Chile in the Copa America on July 4, after losing to Germany in extra-time of last years World Cup final. Good move or a communications coup for Ali Bongo?, one person wondered on Twitter, under a photograph of the Gabonese president at the wheel of a convertible Mercedes Jeep driving through the crowds in Libreville, with Messi beside him in the passenger seat.