By James Dall Last updated: 3rd October 2008
Messi: Argentine star
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has not given up hope of ensuring Lionel Messi features for Argentina in the arranged friendly game at Hampden Park.
The SFA announced on Tuesday that it has secured a deal for an encounter against the South American giants on 19th November.
Smith, though, has since become aware of an agreement between Messi's club Barcelona and the Argentina Football Association that sees the 21-year-old exempt from certain friendly matches.
Barca are adamant Messi will not play in any friendly fixtures for his nation this season following his involvement at the Olympics, but Smith is determined to pursue the matter.
He said in the Daily Record: "It's a great pity but I will be looking to pursue the relevant parties to see if we can get them to change their mind.
"When the game was confirmed we had an agreement that they would bring their best side from a list of players. Messi must not be on that list and that is not something we were aware of.
"It's a great shame that one of the best players in the world will not be coming to Glasgow but hopefully we can work to get him here."
Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain added: "We allowed Messi to play at the Olympics.
"We had an agreement that there was insurance that covered the whole of the player's salary if he got injured.
"We also have the word of the Argentina FA that he will be released from playing friendlies this season."

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West Ham v Everton - 1st Half
Wigan v Fulham - 2nd Half
Wigan v Fulham - 1st Half
West Ham v Everton - 2nd Half
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
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