Cheuko was unhappy that fans easily approached Messi. Photo: Reuters .

Cheuko, who has been closely following Messi since his move to Inter Miami, has warned of lax security at football stadiums after a series of successful fan invasions, saying most security personnel “are not really focused on their duties”.

The former MMA fighter posted a lengthy statement on Instagram , stressing that he did not want to be the center of attention: “I would like to sincerely thank the stadium security teams in Honduras and Peru for their professionalism and valuable support. But it was not my role to arrest people who rushed onto the field – that was the responsibility of the security staff.”

“Let’s be honest: most of them – and I mean most, not just generalising – are not really focused on their jobs. Instead of ensuring safety, they are busy watching the game or taking photos and videos. And because they are not paying attention, I have to take action myself when someone enters the pitch,” he continued.

“Please, security personnel, be vigilant. Do the job you are paid to do well. The safety of the stadium, players and spectators depends on you. I will always be ready to support and intervene when necessary. But if you do not do your job, this job becomes too difficult for me alone,” Cheuko said indignantly.

Cheuko also denied false information about his income: “I am not a celebrity, and I do not have an arrogant ego. I do not earn 3 million USD per year as some newspapers reported. I am just an ordinary worker, working hard every day to complete my duties with dedication and honor. My job is to protect the people I accompany without hurting any fans, and for that, I am willing to do everything.”

“I accept running across the field in sneakers. Accept falling face down in front of thousands of people. Accept being bumped into, pushed down, and even humiliated if necessary. All of that is not important to me. Because my image is not important, only the mission is the only thing that matters. And if one day I have to sacrifice my life to complete the mission, I will not hesitate,” he emphasized.

Cheuko’s statement comes just days after he let a fan get past and approach Messi during Inter Miami’s friendly against Sporting San Miguelito on February 3. In that situation, the former MMA fighter slipped on the field, allowing the fan to hug Messi before being dragged away by security.

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