The president of a French village soccer team has been hit with a six-month suspension after making a comedy bid to sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Cédric Enjolras, the president of FC Borne, a second division team in the Haute-Loire league, submitted the formal request to sign Messi last month after a boozy night out with friends.
"One cannot accept such behaviour," said Yves Begon, the head of the FFF registration office. "It is perhaps a joke but we are here to judge the facts."
Enjolras, bemused by the FFF's lack of proportion, explained what had happened: "To submit bids among small clubs, you need to fill out forms on the internet.
"I decided to register a bid so I typed the name Lionel Messi, his date of birth and his parent club into the system.
"Then the league transmitted the request to the federation. They were shocked by it and refused to send it to their Spanish counterparts.
"I have been suspended for six months, of which three are suspended. It was just a joke, to amuse friends.
"I'm going to have spend three months in the bar."
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| There isn't a club in the world which doesn't want Lionel Messi – includes a village soccer team Photo: Getty Images |
Cédric Enjolras, the president of FC Borne, a second division team in the Haute-Loire league, submitted the formal request to sign Messi last month after a boozy night out with friends.
It may have been a joke but the French Football Federation failed to see the funny side of the audacious bid and described the club's behaviour as unacceptable
"One cannot accept such behaviour," said Yves Begon, the head of the FFF registration office. "It is perhaps a joke but we are here to judge the facts."
Enjolras, bemused by the FFF's lack of proportion, explained what had happened: "To submit bids among small clubs, you need to fill out forms on the internet.
"I decided to register a bid so I typed the name Lionel Messi, his date of birth and his parent club into the system.
"Then the league transmitted the request to the federation. They were shocked by it and refused to send it to their Spanish counterparts.
"I have been suspended for six months, of which three are suspended. It was just a joke, to amuse friends.
"I'm going to have spend three months in the bar."
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
