Barcelona players snubbed
the FIFA Best Awards ceremony in Zurich, with his club announcing hours before
the ceremony that the players couldn't come because the team had to prepare for
an 'important' second leg game against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
But football legends Diego Maradona, who once coached Messi with
Argentina, and Roberto Carlos, former Real Madrid and Brazil player, and
Roberto Salgado slammed Messi for snubbing the awards, saying the Barcelona man
and his teammates should have shown more respect to FIFA.
Roberto Carlos, said to reporters: "I am sad and disappointed that
Leo and his teammates have not come. They have many great footballers and all
of us would have liked to see them attend.
"We all wanted to see Messi, the other big players and the coach of
Barcelona here. It's a FIFA prize. FIFA is the highest authority in football.
So, everyone should be here."
Diego Maradona said: "I'm disappointed with Messi, from
watching television at home you cannot fight anything or anyone -- here you can
fight," he told TVE.
"I do not know why Barcelona did not come to such an important
event. They have priorities and the priority was for Leo not to come. I think
coming here [Zurich] they could fight more than they would in Barcelona."
Roberto Carlos said Ronaldo has previously appeared at award ceremonies
even when he knew he'll lose, urging Messi to learn from Ronaldo.
"Cristiano has learned the importance of this and I think Leo also
needs to learn that he must be here. This has to change," he said.
"Real Madrid also have a match this week but they are well
represented in Zurich. The obligations to win for both clubs are the
same."
Former Madrid right-back Salgado said:"Real Madrid are currently
the best team in the world so maybe this has affected the decision of the
Barcelona players," Salgado said. "Barcelona are wrong for not
sending their best players.
"I know that the club has had issues with FIFA in the past but
Barcelona needs to understand that FIFA is changing. This is not how you expect
one of the world's biggest clubs to behave."
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