Benin hit out at Argentina over Messi's retirement game: 'They wanted nothing to do with us'

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FT Desk

Lionel Messi bid farewell to Argentina with a retirement match against Benin last week.

The South American side won 3-0 and in true Messi fashion, he had a hand in all three goals, setting up two before scoring himself with a penalty.

It was a joyous affair in Buenos Aires as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was honoured by his compatriots. A large pre-match display was followed by a stoppage of play in the 10th minute as he received an ovation from the supporters in attendance at the Estadio Monumental.

Following the game, he made a 10-minute speech to the crowd as he thanked everyone who helped him throughout his Argentina career.

Overall, the atmosphere was emotional yet jovial - unless you were a Benin player.

Reports emerged following the friendly that Benin were unhappy with how their stars had been treated post-match as they looked to honour Messi in their own way.

The team's assistant coach Tunde Adelakun has outlined some of the disrespect that he believes was shown to Benin on the night.

"What struck me was the very obvious and blatant refusal of the Argentina team to want to have anything to do with my team after the game," he said in a lengthy statement.

"Handshakes at the end of the game were hurried and impersonal. And any attempt by our players to get close to the man they came to celebrate was rebuffed rather in a very hostile manner by the security operatives on ground. They clearly collectively did not want to be on the same place with my Benin team. It was rather disturbing.

"Again toward the end of the lap, some of my players lined along what was to be his natural path to end the lap of honour. He was leading. My boys were there. Just wanting him to walk towards them and for them to applaud and appreciate him. Right at the very last moment, Leo made a wild detour and, consciously avoiding the crowd of Benin players that had formed, walked toward the centre of the pitch.

"That was a new low for a man revered by many and who, in many young African minds, could do no wrong."

Adelakun believes that, had an elite European team been the opposition for Argentina on the night, they would have been treated with a lot more respect.

"It begged the question – if it was England or Spain that had come to play that testimonial against Argentina to give a send off to Messi, would they have been treated the way Benin was treated?" he continued.

"If Benin was so distasteful to them in such a way, why did they agree to share a pitch with them for 90 minutes?

"Not a single word of acknowledgment of the opposition that made the game possible.

"It felt like inviting people to a wedding party, and the bride and groom sit at a table amongst their friends, finish the party and walk past other guests who made the event a well-attended one with their presence, without as much as a ‘hello and thanks for coming’!

"Messi’s story is a beautiful one. And nothing will take what he’s done for football from him. But the events post-match, the way security was pushing and shoving fellow players who just wanted to show some respect and appreciation for a legend of the game, left quite a bitter taste in the mouths of many leaving Buenos Aires the next day.

He ended his post with: "Respect is supposed to be mutual. And in football, we show respect."