Rosario Central Demands Clarification from Foreign Minister Quirno Over Messi Post Dispute

Argentine football club Rosario Central has escalated a public dispute with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, formally demanding an explanation and retraction through a letter of notice. The club took this step after Quirno publicly criticized a social media post by Rosario Central that honored Giovani Lo Celso, a player from the club who participated in the World Cup final.

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I formally demand that you clarify and rectify what you have stated, through the same channel by which you made the aforementioned publications and within 48 hours of receiving this.

The controversy ignited on July 19, following Spain's World Cup victory. Rosario Central posted an image celebrating the Argentine team's effort, but notably excluded captain Lionel Messi, instead highlighting Lo Celso, who played only one match during the tournament. This decision drew immediate criticism online, particularly from users who pointed out Messi's strong ties to Newell's Old Boys, Rosario Central's fierce rival.

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One can always be more hateful… removing Messi and Scaloni from this photo for being from Newell's is another institutional disgrace added to having accepted that infamous trophy.

Foreign Minister Quirno weighed in, accusing the club of "institutional disgrace" and suggesting malicious intent. He implied that excluding Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni (who also has ties to Newell's) from the celebratory image was a deliberate act. Quirno also referenced a separate controversy regarding the club's top ranking for the 2025 season, suggesting a pattern of questionable actions.

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Your statements are false, malicious, ill-intentioned, and offensive. They are false because the reason why the Club chose the photo in question was precisely to honor Giovanni Lo Celso and highlight a player from our club, which is natural, and his participation in this glorious Argentine national team.

Rosario Central strongly refuted Quirno's claims, labeling them "false, malicious, ill-intentioned, and offensive." In a statement, the club explained that the photo was chosen specifically to honor Giovani Lo Celso and highlight a player from their own ranks, which they deemed a natural gesture. They pointed out that other Argentine clubs had similarly featured their homegrown players on social media. The club emphasized that Quirno's characterizations were deeply offensive to an institution of Rosario Central's standing and prestige.

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Furthermore, your statements are deeply offensive to an institution of the trajectory and prestige of Rosario Central. The adjectives you chose ('hateful,' 'infamous') are...