Why Leo Messi's private jet sparked a scandal in France

Lionel Messi has come under fire from environmentalists for the use of his private jet. According to the anti-globalization NGO Attac, his jet made, only between last June and August, a total of 52 flights, which is equivalent to an emission of 1502 tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) which is, at the same time, what an average French citizen emits during 150 years.

The report was released just at a time when, in the midst of the energy crisis, the debate in France on the ecological cost of this means of transport has been rekindled after PSG came under the spotlight of these environmental groups for the abuse of the club's private jet.

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The impact of Messi's private jet flight data sparked a major controversy in France and even the French Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, said that some things need to be changed to reduce the carbon footprint of sporting activity.

In the first week of September, "La Pulga's" plane traveled from Figari (France), in Corsica, to Valencia, from there to Buenos Aires and from the capital of Argentina to Jacksonville, in Florida, United States.

Controversy at PSG

Last weekend, the Parisian team made a 385-kilometer flight from Paris to Nantes, which the public opinion called frivolous. The same journey could have been made by train and would have taken only two hours. In fact, the director of the long-distance division of the French railway company SNCF, Alain Krakovitch, posted a message on social networks criticizing the team's decision and encouraging the use of the train.