Lionel Messi distances himself from the political campaign of the Guatemalan Partido Patriota
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and the company which manages his rights are seeking to distance themselves from a political campaign, that of the Partido Patriota (PP) of Guatemala, which has used an image of the star.
The player and his company Leo Messi Management explained in a press release to EFE in Guatemala that "nobody has authorised the use of the image of the player, for this political party or any other."
They also stated that "they hold the right to take the legal action open to them" against any person or institution that use the image of the Barcelona player.
This statement from the Argentine arrives after "checking published photos on social media of a banner" where Messi appears to be "supposedly supporting a political party in an election campaign within the country."
On the banner, shared by local media, there appears to be an image of Messi in an orange Barcelona kit, supporting the candidates of the Partido Patriota who identify themselves with the same colour, in Jacaltenango, in a rural town 400 kilometres east of Guatemala City.
"The best team is orange. On the 6th of September vote for the [Partido] Patriota of Jacaltenango, the best team," reads the banner, hung in an area of Jacaltenango.
Partido Patriota have explained through one of their representatives, Jose Fernandez Chenal, that the banner does not form part of their political campaign, and will not rule out punishing those responsible from the town.
Guatemala's elections will be held on the 6th of September, in order to choose their president and vice-president for the period of 2016-2020, as well as 158 MPs, 20 legislators for the Central American Parliament and 338 local administrations.
