Benin boss Gernot Rohr criticises Argentina restrictions after Messi encounter

Benin manager Gernot Rohr says his team were given no access to Lionel Messi memorabilia or the stadium’s players’ corridor during Tuesday’s match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

The Guepards were the final opponents of Messi with the Argentina national team, but the fixture was overshadowed for the Benin delegation by what Rohr described as a series of restrictions behind the scenes.

“No photo of Messi, no shirt. They did not even let us enter the corridor; security refused everyone,” said Rohr, who previously managed the Super Eagles.

An image of Messi declining a selfie request from a Benin player prompted debate on social media. Rohr added to the discussion by expressing his frustration at the arrangements surrounding the fixture.

“The only negative point is that the Argentines gave us nothing,” he said. “Not a photo of Messi, not a shirt.”

The Benin squad were also denied access to areas around the match, while requests connected with meeting or photographing the Argentina captain were not permitted.

Questions had already been raised about the organisation of the match before Rohr’s comments. These included the lack of financial benefits for the Benin delegation and concerns over the team’s travel conditions.