Messi and team forced to fly as roads at home get choked with excited soccer fans
Buenos Aires: With the soccer fans being over-excited about Argentina’s victory in the World Cup, the team’s celebration was disrupted, forcing Lionel Messi and the others to go by helicopter instead of an open-top bus on Tuesday.
When the team bus arrived in the city at 3 am on Tuesday, the fans thronged the vehicle at the airport. Also, as at least 4 million people gathered on the streets, the city trip planned for midday was interrupted.
A video shared on social media shows a fan falling from a bridge on to the bus carrying the soccer team. Another fan is seen falling on the crowd, missing the bus.
Chiqui Tapia, head of the Football Association, apologized to the supporters, saying that they were unable to continue by bus.
Enzo Fernandez, who is a midfielder in the Argentinian team, posted a picture of himself in the helicopter.
A presidential spokesperson confirmed that the soccer players had taken the air route since the fans’ delight and excitement at the team’s victory had jammed the roads. The local television channels broadcast scenes of the people clogging the highway bridges, climbing atop light posts and vehicles, expressing their joy.
In addition, Alberto Fernandez, President of Argentina, declared a national holiday for celebrations over the World Cup victory.
With Argentina having a population of 46 million, the celebration is providing a relief for a nation struggling against economic problems including inflation, weakening currency and tight capital controls. The poor planning of celebration and security failure to protect the soccer team’s bus are likely to be severely criticized.
The players, however, have been reluctant to meet the government authorities, to avoid mixing of politics and sports. A visit to the presidential palace was ruled out by the football federation on Tuesday. In addition, when the team landed at the international airport, Messi did not greet Interior Minister Eduardo de Pedro, who was waiting for the team on the tarmac.
Lionel #Messi and team were evacuated in helicopters after fans jumped from bridges to get on the bus during the #FifaWorldCup winners' parade in Buenos Aires#Argentinafans #FIFAWorldCupFinal https://t.co/s54PeOSdmb pic.twitter.com/IgjU5z47Q8
— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 21, 2022
Estiman que el 10% de la población argentina (casi cinco millones) están ahora mismo recibiendo al plantel campeón del mundo en las calles de Buenos Aires. pic.twitter.com/lvpETOS1Gg
— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) December 20, 2022
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Allahabad HC orders FIR against Rahul Gandhi in alleged dual citizenship case
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the registration of an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with an alleged dual citizenship controversy.
The court also observed that after the registration of the FIR, the state government may seek the assistance of a central agency to investigate the matter.
The order was passed by a bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir, who had challenged a January 28, 2026 order of a special MP/MLA court rejecting his plea for an FIR against Gandhi, who is also the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The special court had earlier held that it was not competent to adjudicate on issues related to citizenship.
The petitioner, a BJP worker from Karnataka, had sought registration of an FIR and a detailed probe into the matter, levelling allegations against Gandhi under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
The complaint was initially filed before the special MP/MLA court in Rae Bareli. However, on the petitioner's request, the high court transferred the case to Lucknow on December 17, 2025.
The MP/MLA court in Lucknow subsequently dismissed the plea on January 28, 2026, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court, which has now ordered registration of an FIR.
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