Barcelona star dealing with corrupt African leader

Steve Dede 15:45 - 21 July 2015

According to reports by France Football, Messi was paid $3.7 for the trip and for also supporting Bongo who has been regularly linked with corruption and human rights abuses

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been accused of dealing with corrupt African leaders.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner was in Gabon last week as guest of President Ali Bongo to lay foundations for a new stadium in the city of Port-Gentil which will host the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

According to reports by France Football, Messi was paid $3.7 for the trip and for also supporting Bongo who has been regularly linked with corruption and human rights abuses.

The reports come after it has been revealed that Messi was also present at the opening of a new Bongo family restaurant.

Oppositions have started questioning Messi's involvement with Ali Bongo; "People are outraged about this,' said an opposition source in Gabon.

"Messi should do a bit of research into what Bongo represents."

Speaking on Messi's appearance, Bongo explained: "When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville.

"It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word."

Messi still has a tax evasion case to answer to in Spain.

The authorities have accused Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, of selling the footballer's image rights using shell companies in Uruguay, Belize, Switzerland and the UK to avoid reporting earnings in Spain, an accusation both father and son have denied.