Lionel Messi Reportedly Paid Argentina's Security Staff During Dispute With AFA

Lionel Messi reportedly paid Argentina's security staff "out of his own pocket" during a dispute with the Argentine FA, according to ESPN.com. The AFA "has been in turmoil for over two years" following the death of longtime President Julio Grondona. Argentine journalist Juan Pablo Varsky said that the financial situation "has deteriorated to the point where the national team's security staff asked the country's biggest star for assistance" before last week's World Cup qualifier in Brazil. Varsky: "Lionel Messi was in his room waiting for the game against Brazil in Belo Horizonte, when a knock at the door came. Two or three people appeared, all from the security team who look after the Argentine team and they said, 'Leo, we have to talk with you. For five or six months they have not paid us. The situation is complicated, you are the captain of the team, you know us, we are asking for your help.'" Varsky said that Messi called his father to send the staff money as a way to end the dispute (ESPN.com, 11/19).