Lionel Messi's boyhood club suspends 9-year-olds for photo with rival team player
Several Newell's youth players were suspended for posing with rival Rosario Central footballer Ignacio Malcorra. The harsh punishment has sparked public outrage and criticism from national figures.
Image used for representational use. (Reuters Photo)
In Short
- Newells vs Rosario rivalry has taken an ugly turn in Argentina
- Several 9-year-olds were sanctioned by the Newells club over an innocent photo
- The punishment triggered widespread criticism
A seemingly innocent photo has sparked a major controversy in Argentina, after youth players from Newell's Old Boys were sanctioned for posing with Rosario Central footballer Ignacio Malcorra. The disciplinary action has been widely criticised as an extreme response to the city’s famously intense football rivalry.
The photo, taken at a youth tournament three months ago, showed several Newell’s academy players with Malcorra, a veteran of five seasons with arch-rivals Rosario Central. After the image recently went viral on social media, Newell’s suspended the youngsters from training and revoked their scholarships for three months.
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Club officials defended the decision, claiming it was a preventive measure amid reported threats from some ultra-fans. However, the punishment has drawn strong backlash from the public, football personalities, and national figures.
“I feel sad for them,” Malcorra told reporters on Friday. “Children are innocent and don’t fully understand these rivalries. They just wanted a photo with a top-flight player — like any kid would.”
Despite the club’s claims that the issue had been handled internally, some radical fans had reportedly demanded the children's expulsion from the academy.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni condemned the sanctions. “If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn’t matter who you take a photo with,” he said ahead of Thursday’s match against Chile.
National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich also weighed in, calling the punishment “disgraceful” and accusing the club of bowing to pressure from hardline supporters.
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The Rosario derby — the fierce rivalry between Newell’s Old Boys and Rosario Central — runs deep in the culture of the port city, which has produced legends like Lionel Messi, who came through Newell’s, and Angel Di Mara, who recently returned to play for Central.
In a statement, Newell’s emphasized that the affected children “continue to be members of the club,” and said directors would meet with parents next week “to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
A seemingly innocent photo has sparked a major controversy in Argentina, after youth players from Newell's Old Boys were sanctioned for posing with Rosario Central footballer Ignacio Malcorra. The disciplinary action has been widely criticised as an extreme response to the city’s famously intense football rivalry.
The photo, taken at a youth tournament three months ago, showed several Newell’s academy players with Malcorra, a veteran of five seasons with arch-rivals Rosario Central. After the image recently went viral on social media, Newell’s suspended the youngsters from training and revoked their scholarships for three months.
Club officials defended the decision, claiming it was a preventive measure amid reported threats from some ultra-fans. However, the punishment has drawn strong backlash from the public, football personalities, and national figures.
“I feel sad for them,” Malcorra told reporters on Friday. “Children are innocent and don’t fully understand these rivalries. They just wanted a photo with a top-flight player — like any kid would.”
Despite the club’s claims that the issue had been handled internally, some radical fans had reportedly demanded the children's expulsion from the academy.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni condemned the sanctions. “If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn’t matter who you take a photo with,” he said ahead of Thursday’s match against Chile.
National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich also weighed in, calling the punishment “disgraceful” and accusing the club of bowing to pressure from hardline supporters.
The Rosario derby — the fierce rivalry between Newell’s Old Boys and Rosario Central — runs deep in the culture of the port city, which has produced legends like Lionel Messi, who came through Newell’s, and Angel Di Mara, who recently returned to play for Central.
In a statement, Newell’s emphasized that the affected children “continue to be members of the club,” and said directors would meet with parents next week “to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.”
(With Reuters Inputs)