Lionel Messi’s brother faces arms charges in Argentina

Brother of Barcelona striker Lionel Messi faces arms charges in Argentina. (Source: AP)

Matias Messi, brother of Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, faces arms charges in Argentina, the Cadena 3 news portal reported on Sunday.

Matias Messi refused to allow police to search his car and did not show them the vehicle’s documents during a traffic stop on Saturday in Rosario city, the report said.

Officers finally searched the automobile and found a .22-caliber pistol for which Messi did not have a permit and took him to police precinct 16 in Rosario.

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The brother of the Barcelona star spent four hours at the precinct before being released.

Matias Messi was involved in a similar incident in October 2008, when he was arrested in Rosario for carrying a handgun in the waistband of his pants.