"What happened warrants punishments and resignations": a scandal in Argentina before Messi's farewell

French journalist Romain Molina has lifted the lid on the chaos behind the friendly between Argentina and Burkina Faso. The game was played in extraordinary circumstances. The African side were forced to field 13 players making their international debuts after a logistical crisis prompted several of their stars to refuse to board the flight out of Morocco.

Writing on his X account, Molina said many of the young players in the Burkina Faso squad lived through "the adventure of a lifetime". They came up against the World Cup runners-up at the Monumental, and some of them do not even hold professional contracts.

Molina explained that Burkina Faso's delegation touched down in Argentina less than six hours before kick-off, their journey lasting around 12 hours. This young group then faced one of the toughest tests imaginable, up against a side packed with elite stars from across the world.

He added: "Whatever the result, this experience will remain etched in these players' memories forever.

Molina took aim at both the Argentine and Burkinabé football federations. Argentine fans, he argued, had paid to watch a strong African side, not a young team that had only just stepped off a plane and featured non-professional players.

What happened, he said, warranted "penalties and resignations" from officials on both sides. He branded the whole affair "organisational chaos".

He concluded: "I feel sorry for these young players. What can they do against the World Cup runners-up in such conditions?"