Qatar judge frees Argentina’s “first fan” after 78 days: he spent the entire World Cup in prison

Marcello Martínez and Ivo Aimar Churchthe two Argentinian fans imprisoned in Qatar since 12 October on money laundering charges, they have been released this Thursday by local justice.

After 78 days of detention – a period that covered the entire World Cup – the two Argentines were released as part of the proceedings investigating the crime of money laundry through a fake real estate agency, which rented properties for the World Cup which ended on Sunday 18 December, with the title obtained by Lionel Messi’s national team.

The release was confirmed at Telam Agency by Rodolfo Baqué, lawyer of Martínez, self-proclaimed the “First Fan” for his activity on social networks with advice for fans on their way to the World Cup.

For the moment, Martínez will continue in Qatar to resolve his situation, according to Baqué, who assisted him legally through a law firm in Qatar.

The whole world in jail

Martínez together with Aimar Chiesa were arrested on October 12, after being cheated by a criminal gang who used a real estate company to launder money.

Martínez has been living in Doha since May 3 when he settled down as a tourist after spending his honeymoon in Egypt. Meanwhile Aimar Chiesa has been there for more than a year and a half and already had his actual residence.

In mid-November and almost when the World Cup was about to start, the Qatari justice decided that both Argentines would spend another 30 days in prison. But the period was finally extended by another 15 days.

While in prison, the two were able to receive visits from Argentine friends during the World Cup but, despite continuous legal attempts, they were only released today, ten days after the final that the Argentine national team saw and won against France.

Both had dreams of experiencing the World Cup in Qatar and had rented properties through this supposed real estate agency for family and friends who would be traveling to the World Cup.