San Juan: Lionel Messi announced a press boycott here Tuesday to protest against a journalist who alleged team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi had used marijuana at Argentina’s training base.

Standing in front of the entire Argentina squad at a post-match news conference following his team’s 3-0 win over Colombia, Messi said the players would no longer speak to press following the controversy.

‘We have made the decision not to talk to the press anymore, obviously you know why,’ the Argentina captain said.

‘There were a lot of accusations, a lot of disrespect, and the accusations they made against ‘Pocho’ (Lavezzi) are very serious,’ the Barcelona superstar said.

Lavezzi, who plays for Chinese side Hebei Fortune, was accused by an Argentine radio journalist on Twitter of smoking marijuana in the team’s training camp.

Lavezzi, who has denied the claim, played no part in last Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Brazil and was left off the substitutes bench for Tuesday’s match against Colombia.