The Moroccan football association and its Argentine counterpart have signed a secret deal allowing Lionel Messi not take part in the March 26 friendly match in Tangiers. Reports in Morocco and Argentina however suggest that the player’s absence was decided under a secret deal between the two federations. Messi played the entire 3-1-lost match between Argentine and Venezuela last week. Messi’s presence at the March 26 friendly already stirred controversy in Morocco following revelations that fans and Moroccan players are not allow to snap pictures with the superstar, according to an agreement governing the match. Aside from Messi, French club PSG’s start Angel Di Maria will also miss the much awaited march.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 25, 2019 15:33 UTC