Before the start of the inaugural meeting of the Copa America 2024 between Argentina and Canada teamwhich ended in a 2-0 victory for the world champion, a curious fact occurred: a pastor blessed the trophy defended by the Albiceleste, which generated a great impact on social networks. Is about Emilio Agüero Esgaibwhich has a very particular history.
Read also: Copa América 2024: matches, schedules and everything you need to know
Aguero Esgaib He is a Paraguayan pastor and founder of the church More than conquerors in Asunción, which was once attended by Alejandro Domínguez, president of Conmebol. Years before turning to religious activities, he was a soldier and kickboxing champion.
Alejandro Domínguez, president of Conmebol, attended several events led by Pastor Emilio Agüero Esgaib. (Photo: Capture X @agdws).
“I am a PCD Aviation Sub-Lieutenant reserve soldier (military parachutist). Glory to Paraguayan Aviation!“, he wrote on his Instagram account where he published photos with the uniform he used at that time. Almost at the same time he began to dedicate himself to martial arts, where over the years he managed to earn the nickname “The destroyer”.
Emilio Agüero Esgaib was a soldier before becoming a pastor. (Photo: Facebook Emilio Agüero Esgaib)
In his career he became a karate and kickboxing champion. He was chosen by the Paraguayan press and federation as the best fighter for four consecutive times.. He retired in 1998, when he was 27 years old, after defeating the Argentine Juan Rolón.
“In a fight I had put on a hood that said “fighter of Christ”. A pastor was surprised and invited me to tell my testimony in front of 1,600 people. After speaking, they invited me to other schools and I began to visit various places,” he said in an interview with the Paraguayan media. The National, where he also acknowledged that he is a fan of Olympia and what practical football in Sportivo Luqueño as a goalkeeper.
Emilio Agüero Esgaib’s message before the match between Argentina and Canada for the Copa América 2024
“God bless America. Christ’s message is still valid today and he called us to peace, understanding and forgiveness. He also told us ‘believe’, because for him who believes, everything is possible. These words encourage us not to get discouraged, to believe big and believe that anything is possible,” he said before the game.
The same message was replicated by another pastor but in English, for the public who does not speak or understand Spanish.
Two pastors blessed the Copa América before the Argentine National Team match. (Video: TyC Sports)
Emilio Agüero Esgaib’s statements “against gender ideology”
The shepherd showed himself “against gender ideology.” In the middle The Union of Paraguay He said the following: “We now see a sexual promiscuity throughout society, a degeneration and cauterization of the mind, mainly in Europe.” In this regard, he maintained: “My problem is not the homosexual person. Both the Bible and the laws give free will so that people can do whatever they want with their lives.. But when they want to legalize and educate my children with these ideologies, I already have something to say.”
In addition, Emilio Agüero Esgaib made statements against trans people and abortion. “The fetus is not the woman’s body. Men have male genitals and women have female genitals. It is said ‘uterus’ not ‘uterus’, ‘body’ and not ‘body’. The world is upside down,” he wrote on his X account.
What FIFA says about religious expressions during a match
In paragraph 2 of article 4 of the organization’s statute (from September 2022) it is established that “FIFA declares itself neutral in matters of politics and religion. Exceptions are contemplated in cases that affect the statutory objectives of FIFA.”
Furthermore, football federations and confederations are required to declare this same neutrality and “independence and prevention of political interference” and it is established in article 4 of the Equipment Regulations that “players must not show t-shirts with slogans, statements or political, religious or personal images” and that, if they do so, “they will be sanctioned by the competent organization.”
For its part, article 60 of the FIFA Stadium Safety Regulations states that “The promotion or advertisement by any means of political or religious messages is strictly prohibited. or any other political or religious act in the stadium or its surroundings before, during and after the matches.”
