Leo Messi’s bodyguard is a violent football hooligan and murder suspect
Ariel Pugliese passes the AFA’s strict recruitment policy
As Lionel Messi prepares for Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier with Brazil this weekend, he will be under the watchful eye of a burly chap named Ariel Pugliese. He may look like run-of-the-mill muscle for hire, but the brave soles at Argentinean newspaper Ole have exposed him as a leading figure in one of the country’s most violent football holigan factions.
Nicknamed ‘The Worm’, Pugliese is a senior member of terribly scary hooligan organisation Los Perales de Nueva Chicago, and he has a lengthy criminal record. He was investigated in the murder of Marcelo Cejas, a Tigre fan who was assassinated after a game in 2007.
To make matters worse, Pugliese might have trouble following Messi through airport security, as he has a bullet lodged in his body from one of his many football-related acts of violence. How fun!
Ole believe Pugliese may have scored his job with the Albicelestes thanks to links with team physio Dady, who was also a member of Los Perales de Nueva Chicago.
Unsurprisingly, the AFA are now being questioned about their decision to place one fo the world’s best footballers under the protection of a dangerous lunatic with a history of firearms and unbridled violence.
5 responses so far
Andy Gale // September 2, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Come on, we *all* deserve a second chance.
lita // September 2, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I love the the so obvious double standard. If this had been about Cristiano Ronaldo the spoiler would have been vicious in blaming him. Yet since it is the “Saint” Messi than its got to be AFA fault. The thing about life is that sooner or later the truths comes out.
shay // September 2, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I agree with Lita. Just cause Messi is ugly doesn’t mean he is a better person, just an ugly person.
HST // September 3, 2009 at 8:38 am
also, the guy is wearing a LASK-jersey, LASK being a tiny Austrian club (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASK_Linz), wonder where he got that from…
Scott // September 3, 2009 at 11:20 am
For those saying Messi is a bad guy…he just showed up at the airport and his security detail was waiting for him. The barrabravas have more power with AFA than most people want to even think about. They’re the ones who got him in.
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