Moroccan FA Demand Explanation Over Messi’s Absence in Friendly

The Football Association in Morocco has asked to be furnished with a reason for the absence of Lionel Messi.

The Atlas Lions are scheduled to play Argentina in a friendly match as the North Africans begin the process of fine-tuning for the Africa cup of Nations.

The Barcelona goal-getter had been lined up to play in the exhibition game in Tanger today.

Conditions were even set detailing how the former world player of the year would be handled, one of which states that the 31-year-old won’t be subjected to tackling by Moroccan players.

Messi was to be flown from Barca to Rabat on a private jet to and fro which was to be paid for by the Moroccan FA including a further one million euros to the coffers of the Argentine FA for agreeing to the test game.

However, twenty-four hours to the encounter, it has come to the notice of the Moroccan FA that the man they’ve so craved seeing at the Grand Stade Tanger won’t be available for the fixture.

Reaction in the North African country once news of Messi’s absence filtered through was one of anger with the FA there understood to have immediately written to their counterparts in North America demanding explanation.

Messi is believed to have sustained a minor injury and has been rested as a precautionary measure, according to reports in Spain.

The absence of Lionel means Morocco will just pay 500,000 euros instead of the initially agreed 1m euros.

The Atlas Lions qualified for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations on an impressive note, collecting eleven points to share the table top with Cameroon.