Argentina's national football team will no longer make statements to the press, after being the target of "very serious accusations" against Ezequiel Lavezzi, such as consuming marijuana, among other "disrespectful acts" towards the team, announced captain Lionel Messi after defeating Colombia 3-0.
"We have made the decision to no longer speak to the press. Obviously you know why. There have been many accusations, many acts of disrespect. The accusations made against 'Pocho' (Lavezzi, for smoking marijuana) are very serious," said Messi, in a press conference surrounded by the entire team of 26 players, in the city of San Juan (western Argentina).
A journalist from an Argentine radio station accused Lavezzi, who plays for Hebei Fortune in China, on his Twitter account of smoking "a joint" during the concentration.
Lavezzi announced on the same social network that he will take "legal actions against Gabriel Anello for his false statements against me and the serious damage they have caused to my family and my work."
Lionel Messi, author of a goal and two assists in a brilliant performance, said that the players know that "many of you (journalists) are not part of that game of disrespecting us, because you can lose, you can win, you can play well, play poorly, but this is getting into personal life."
"If we don't stop it now, we'll never stop it," said the top scorer.
After the 3-0 defeat against Brazil in the Russia-2018 qualifiers, there was a flood of criticism, but some of them were gross and insulting from some media outlets that frequently use that style.
Argentina had been left out of all qualifying positions, but this Tuesday in matchday 12, with the three points against Colombia, they returned to the playoff spot against the winner of the Oceania phase.
"This is not the first accusation. We never said anything. But (about Lavezzi) this goes beyond everything. Many people believe and buy everything that is said. We know that there are many of you who are not part of that game of disrespecting us. But we prefer to put an end to this, we regret it very much," said the forward.