#WeAreAllLeoMessi campaign backfires

Fans on Twitter use the hashtag to criticise player and club

Spanish giants Barcelona launched the #WeAreAllLeoMessi campaign on Twitter to generate support from the club’s fans across the world for Argentine forward Lionel Messi, who was convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to 21 months in jail on Wednesday.

The Catalan side must have expected that fans across the globe would get behind the best player on the planet, however, they soon found out how wrong their initial assumption was.

The club asked fans to “express their sympathy for the greatest footballer in the world by voicing their unconditional support on social networks.”

“We want Leo to know that he is not alone,” the club said on their website.



Nevertheless, fans on Twitter weren’t so kind to Barcelona’s efforts and used the hashtag to criticise the player and the club.

#WeAreAllLeoMessi No we're not! Pay your taxes and have some dignity!! #WeAreNotLeoMessi

— Ralph The Liberal 🇪🇺🇺🇲 (@RalphTheLiberal) July 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/alex_verhaar/status/751898169571672064

https://twitter.com/SparkyPaw/status/751898483989286916

https://twitter.com/EdDeCesare/status/751898622996975616

https://twitter.com/TwatterTheBerry/status/751896894322999296

Because I too have Zero world cups and don't pay taxes... oh wait. But I live in a tax free country. #WeAreAllLeoMessi

— Sid Thor (@SidThor) July 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/MKaroumi/status/751896242855247872

#WeAreAllLeoMessi the worst PR stunt by a football club since Liverpool came up with this beaut.... pic.twitter.com/kMxSmZakZk

— Walter Smith (@mancitysmith) July 9, 2016

I, too, earn an absurd amount of millions and yet felt compelled to defraud the country who gave me my livelihood. #WeAreAllLeoMessi

— Elizabeth Cotignola (@LaDiavolina) July 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/ZoeMarkham/status/751900663597137920

CUZ PAYING TAXES IS SOOOOO OVERRATED #WeAreAllLeoMessi #WorstHashtagEverConceived

— Reilly (@NSNOReilly) July 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/LaRondinella_89/status/751900441504522240

I once babysat for my neighbours and they gave me £15. I didn't pay tax. #WeAreAllLeoMessi

— Olly (@WorldOfOlly) July 9, 2016

And it was pretty obvious who Pakistanis were going to equate Lionel Messi with:

Pakistan Prime minister
Federal ministers
Punjab ministers
Senators
Asif zardari n majurity politicians be like #WeAreAllLeoMessi

IYKWIM

— Мuhammad Sohail (@Yaa_Qurban) July 10, 2016

Nawaz Sharif leading campaign in support of Leo Messi & tax evasion #Pakistan #WeAreAllLionelMessi @FootballFunnys pic.twitter.com/CvWbSFqe6U

— SFN723 (@SFN723) July 9, 2016

#Messi will argue that to establish tax fraud against him, a judicial commission be set up. #NawazSharif is a trendsetter after all

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) July 7, 2016

We live in a world where Zardaari is free and Messi is in jail 😁

— Syed Talha (@Letalhaaa) July 6, 2016

https://twitter.com/ashaqeens/status/750716485635571712

@FCBarcelona Messi looses all the respect which takes years to built. Now history will remember him as a criminal. Great player but convict.

— Mohsin Hasan (@Mohsinhasan1985) July 10, 2016

This article originally appeared on Goal.com