The Management of the Spanish La Liga will take legal action after a pitch invader breached security protocols to get a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at a game held behind closed doors.
Spotting an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name and number, the fan appeared on the pitch early in the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 defeat of Real Mallorca.
He managed to pose for a picture within a couple of metres of Messi before being grabbed by stadium security.
La Liga said it considers the incident “to represent a criminal act”.
In a statement, the league said it made clear its “total condemnation” of the incident.
This type of conduct puts the health of others at risk and risks damaging the integrity of the competition,” it added.
The fan has confessed that he climbed a two-metre high fence to gain access to Mallorca’s stadium.
“I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening. I wanted a photo with Messi and to meet him because he’s my idol,” the French Mallorca resident told reporters.
