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Gabon is mad at Lionel Messi for wearing jorts
Jorts are awful, so point to Gabonese politicians.
Handout/Getty Images
Lionel Messi is on vacation after a tough Copa America, and he decided to visit Gabon. Because he’s on vacation, he dressed like he was on vacation, and Gabonese politicians are pissed.
“When you’re called Lionel Messi and you’re a multi-billionaire, you don’t have the right to present yourself to officials of a republic, even a banana one, with your hands in the pockets of a ripped, tattered pair of shorts,” read a statement from the UPG party. “Gabon isn’t a zoo. We don’t know what the Argentine came to Gabon for, but we at least have the right to denounce his negligence and his lack of respect for standards and principles.”
Messi’s t-shirt and sneakers were fine, but these jorts? Nah. Extremely wack.
In the news
Sevilla have renewed director of football Monchi’s contract. Basically every big team wanted to hire him. (Sevilla)
This Philly Union goal from the U.S. Open Cup is fire. (r/soccer)
Esteban Cambiasso announced he won’t return to Leicester City. (Cuchu’s Facebook)
The comedian who threw cash at Sepp Blatter is getting charged for trespassing. (BBC)
Wolfsburg signed up youngster Francisco Rodriguez. (Bundesliga)
The Chelsea fans who sang “we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” at a black man on the Paris metro have been banned for five years. (Telegraph)
Crossfire is filing a complaint with FIFA over transfer solidarity payments. (Vice)
You should be reading
Ralph Hannah on a strange incident of sexism (and cheating!) in Paraguay. (Futebol Cidade)
Sam McGuire on goalkeepers’ place in modern football. (These Football Times)
Miriti Murungi on the soccer world condoning Russia’s problems with racism. (Soccer Gods)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, it will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Manchester United are close to landing Pedro. (AS)
And apparently they want Fernando Llorente, too. (Mirror)
And they’re still screwing with Real Madrid over David De Gea and Sergio Ramos. (Marca)
Julian Draxler’s agent thinks he could go to Juventus for €25m. (Football Italia)
That Angel Di Maria to PSG thing is still happening, apparently. (Telegraph)
Tuesday’s games
What to watch on Wednesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Gold Cup: USA vs. Jamaica (6 p.m.) - Finally, a tough opponent in a must-win game for the USMNT.
NWSL: 2 games (from 7 p.m.) - With some returning USWNT stars.
Gold Cup: Panama vs. Mexico (9 p.m.) - Will El Tri’s luck finally run out? OK, probably not.
Copa Lib: Tigres vs. Internacional (9 p.m.) - The Brazilians lead, but Tigres have an away goal.
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