Messi’s brother forced to coach a team as punishment for illegal possession of firearms

A new legal case has seen Matias Messi, Lionel’s older brother, forced to coach football as a form of community service due to an illegal possession of firearms charge from last year.

The 34-year-old will have to go 4 hours a week leading and coaching sessions for an entire year at a local club in Rosario, according to the sentence handed down by judge Gonzalo Lopez Quintana.

Messi must also “abstain from abusing drugs and alcohol”, pay an 8,000 peso fine and not change his address as part of his punishment.

Lionel and his father Jorge had been involved in an ongoing case of tax fraud, deemed guilty earlier this summer in July.