{
  "id": 12865568,
  "title": "No photo, no shirt, Benin coach laments treatment after Messi farewell",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/no-photo-no-shirt-benin-coach-laments-treatment-after-messi-farewell-12865568",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T12:28:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/no-photo-no-shirt-benin-coach-laments-treatment-after-messi-farewell/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed disappointment over the treatment his players received from Argentina during their 3-0 friendly defeat at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The Argentina team denied the Benin players the chance to take photos with Lionel Messi and exchange shirts with the Argentine squad, a notable absence as Messi was making his farewell appearance for the national team. Rohr claimed security personnel stopped his team from getting close to the Argentina players. Despite attempts by some Argentine players to exchange shirts, security prevented these interactions. Bennet also tried to present Messi with a bouquet of flowers in the country's colors, but this too was denied. Messi, who marked his farewell with a goal and two assists, described the match as the \"saddest day\" of his career as he ended his 21-year international career with Argentina.",
  "summary": "Benin coach Gernot Rohr has criticised the treatment his players received after Lionel Messi’s farewell match, saying they were denied photos and shirts. Read More: https://punchng.com/no-photo-no-shirt-benin-coach-laments-treatment-after-messi-farewell/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘Gave us nothing’: Argentina refused Benin players selfies with Messi, claims coach",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/gave-us-nothing-argentina-refused-benin-players-selfies-with-messi",
        "published": "2026-10-08T08:57:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "No photo, no shirt, Benin coach laments treatment after Messi farewell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/no-photo-no-shirt-benin-coach-laments-treatment-after-messi-farewell",
        "published": "2026-10-08T12:24:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}