La Liga has said it will be prosecuting a pitch invader at Real Mallorca-Barcelona match because he had planned his action ever since he knew the match was going to hold.
The pitch invader, who is a French Mallorca resident, had in an interview admitted that his action was preplanned because he wanted to take a picture with Barca’s star, Lionel Messi, who scored the last goal in a 4-0 win against the hosts.
The invader will, therefore, be facing legal action against the league governing body after he ran on to the pitch during the behind-closed-doors on Saturday. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get the photograph he had always wanted and he was even forced to delete the unclear picture he had on his phone.
The fan who refused to give his name to reporters during the interview was wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name and number 10 on the back. He will be prosecuted for breaching strict security measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus by entering the pitch early in the second half.
La Liga in a statement n Sunday said the man got access to the pitch “without any authorisation and disobeying the protocols established by health legislation, as well as disobeying the orders of security staff”.
La Liga condemns the action of pitch invader at Mallorca
While condemning the act because is it a type of conduct that puts the health of others at risk and risks damaging the integrity of the competition.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope after he was apprehended by the security personnel in the stadium and the police, he revealed that towards the end of the first half, he scaled a two-meter fence to gain access to the stadium. He added that all he wanted was to take a picture with the 6-time world footballer of the year, who he described as his idol.
“I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening, I wanted a photo with Messi and to meet him because he’s my idol,” he said.
Mallorca is currently investigating how the fan had got into the stadium.
La Liga action recently resumed after three months hiatus due to coronavirus pandemic that left over 20,000 people dead in Spain.
