LaLiga opens probe into Barça team lunch as Messi’s home

Madrid, May 4 (EFE).- LaLiga has opened an investigation into a Barcelona team luncheon at the home of superstar Lionel Messi, house, the Spanish top flight told Efe Tuesday.

Messi, the Barça captain, hosted his teammates and their partners at his seaside property on Monday ahead of the final four matches of the season.

The barbecue at the Argentine great’s place followed practice at the FC Barcelona training facility.

Currently second in LaLiga, Barcelona can claim the top spot – at least for a day – with a win Saturday against leaders Atletico Madrid

League officials said the probe will seek to determine whether the luncheon violated LaLiga’s Covid-19 protocols.

Word of the LaLiga move came after the public health agency in the Catalonia region, of which Barcelona is the capital, announced that it would investigate whether the gathering violated pandemic-related restrictions.

Catalonia’s rules limit gatherings to a maximum of six people from different households.

The official enquiry will look at the possibility of taking concrete action if regulations were violated, the region’s acting vice president, Pere Aragones, said Tuesday, while implicitly criticizing the Barcelona players.

“At a time when we’re taking steps forward to relax the restrictions, we must behave in an exemplary way, especially those with public profiles, who are an example for many people,” he said.

ESPN cited a Barcelona spokesman as saying that the club “has not received any notification of an investigation from LaLiga or local authorities.” EFE

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