Boys in Green see red at ‘baseless’ claims of $10k-a-man Messi pay-off

Irish football chiefs are taking legal advice over claims that Republic of Ireland players were paid $10,000 (€8,900) each not to tackle Argentina star Lionel Messi during a 2010 friendly.

The FAI described as “baseless” the sensational claims originating in Argentina surrounding Messi’s appearance when the two countries played a high-profile friendly game with which the Aviva Stadium officially opened its doors in August 2010.

And former internationals Kevin Kilbane and Keith Andrews also dismissed the bizarre tale out of hand.