Lionel Messi's Boyhood Club in Argentina Suspends Six Youth Players, Takes Away Scholarships because of Photo
- Newell's Old Boys, Lionel Messi's boyhood club in Rosario, Argentina, suspended six youth players in 2025 for taking a photo with a rival team's player.
- The suspension followed the players posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, sparking backlash due to the intense Clasico Rosarino rivalry between the two clubs.
- The club revoked the boys' scholarships and sanctioned them for three months, aiming to prevent further violations related to unauthorized photos with opponents wearing club gear.
- Carlos Panciroli, school director and former club captain, expressed that the children are unfairly affected since their parents were responsible for the photo, highlighting the importance of respecting the club’s crest and jersey.
- This incident highlights growing concerns about youth sports commercialization and the need for clubs to enforce social media guidelines protecting young athletes' image and safety.
27 Articles
27 Articles
On Thursday, six children from the school of the Argentine Newells Old Boys Club were excluded from the trainings to be photographed with a rival club player, Rosario Central.
CNN Radio Argentina An unexpected chapter in Argentine soccer has sparked controversy and outrage. Newell's Sports sanctioned six nine-year-old youth players for taking a photo with Rosario Central star soccer player Ignacio Malcorra. The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
The man, who did not reveal his identity in order not to suffer threats, said that they did not protect the children.
Newell’s Old Boys, a team in which the tico archer Keylor Navas militates, is involved in a controversy in Argentina. In the South American country, the media of Rosario, Argentina, reported that the rojinegros had decided to punish six children from their minor leagues because they took a photograph with one of the figures of the city’s rival, Rosario Central. The six nine-year-olds posed together with Rosario Central’s footballer, yet they wen…
They belong to a subsidiary of the club, the Malvinas Argentinas football school.They suspended them for three months and got a scholarship.According to the institution it was an "exemplifying measure" agreed with the parents.
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