'I'm not a model': Marcelo Bielsa hits back over World Cup photo after Uruguay draw | OneFootball

Marcelo Bielsa dismissed questions about his official FIFA World Cup portrait after Uruguay’s opener against Saudi Arabia, saying "I'm not a model" and insisting he owed no explanation.

Uruguay opened their campaign with a 1-1 stalemate at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, dominating but needing Maximiliano Araujo’s 80th-minute equaliser after Abdulelah Al-Amri struck in the first half. FIFA said an airline error in Mexico delayed their flight from Cancun to Miami before the game.

Before kick-off, a video of Bielsa’s pre-match portrait, a moment that often features playful poses, went viral as he stared at the floor and stayed still, prompting claims of a protest.

"I don't have to give any explanation," Bielsa said. "The picture was taken the way it was taken." "I'm not a model."

He questioned why such matters required justification, suggested there is no obligation to behave like models, and maintained he had done nothing wrong.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk